Winston Churchill, ”Be Ye Men of Valor” - 5/19/1940

We continue our series on the speeches of Great Britain's prime minister during World War II, Winston Churchill.

His very first address to the nation (on the BBC) as prime minister was on May 19, 1940. The Nazis were sweeping Western Europe, seeming unstoppable. Holland had fallen only 4 days before, and the French forces, assisted by the British, were overwhelmed  by superior forces. The withdrawal to Dunkirk was already proposed, and potential disaster and defeat looming. The picture was not rosy, and Churchill didn't paint it with pretty colors. His words, though bleak, inspired the confidence of desperation and resolve that would be needed in the battles to come:

"... side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history. Behind them – behind us – behind the Armies and Fleets of Britain and France – gather a group of shattered States and bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians – upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must, as conquer we shall."

He ends with these words of commitment and resolve:

"Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: 'Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.'"

Listen again with us to the inspiring words of one of the great statesmen of the 20th century as the war unfolds.

If you'd like to support us, donate through Paypal at Romanschapter5@comcast.net

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured

https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords

https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com

 

#churchil #winston #winstonchurchil #worldwarii #worldwar2 #worldwartwo #worldwar #england #america #europe #europeanwar #americanwar #englandwar #warineurope #primeminister #bristishprimeminister #parliament #historicchurchillspeeches #houseofcommons #bbc #britishhistory #beyemenofvalor #valour #conflict #france