Canadian Military History Volume 2 Issue 2 Article 20 1993 Churchill and the Historians Robert Vogel Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Vogel, Robert "Churchill and the Historians." Canadian Military History 2, 2 (1993) This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vogel: Churchill and the Historians More seriously but not Copp's First (of which Lord Balfour so aptly fault there is a major problem with Churchill said; "I hear that he has written a the transcription of French names. big book about himself and called it Major Leon Brosseau, D Company and the 'The World Crisis."'). Apparently commander, killed in action, is everyone whoever talked to him or referred to as Lucien. Killed in the saw him in the distance has left same action is the mortar platoon Historians behind some clever entry in his commander, Captain Orieux, diary or memoirs. Consequently referred to in the book as Oriens. A Robert Vogel there exists an absolute treasure friend of this reviewer, Major Alex trove of material from which to Angers, shot through the throat, is mine endless quotations by which referred to as Alexander not as Robert Blake & Roger Louis, eds. one can prove a variety of likely Alexandre, which is his real name. Churchill: A Major Reassessment of his and not so likely interpretations of These may seem small errors.but Life in Peace and War. London: Oxford his actions. in work such as this, precision is University Press, 1992. 581 pages. most desirable ifonly out ofrespect. "Not only did Mr. Churchill £19.95 (Not yet available in Canada). In a three-line quote requiring both get his war and run it: he also simple transcription (p.lll) there got in the first account of it."1 It are five mistakes. An alert and Tuvia Ben-Moshe. Churchill: Strategy was an account, moreover, that was qualified proof reader could have and History. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne not only massive and well-written, spotted these errors. Rienner Publishers, 1992. 397 pages. but one that was also replete with $45.00 U.S. documentation. That meant that Copp's conclusion that the Churchill had not only "run" the Canadians proved the equals, Richard Lamb. Churchill as War Leader: Second World War but that he had indeed, the betters oftheir enemies Right or Wrong? London: Bloomsbury, also set the agenda for those, at is contrary to the impressions 1991. 400 pages. $22.95 U.S. least those concerned with British created by Canada's dean of History, who began the process of military history, C.P. Stacey. The writing about it. But after fifty John Charmley. Churchill, The End of tendency in Stacey's time was to years and the opening of most of Glory: A Political Biography. London: perpetuate the Canadian the archives, this advantage has propensity to self-denigration: Hodder and Stoughton, 1992. 742pages. begun to wear off. Now Churchill something which Copp and others $45.00. can be criticized not only for what are no longer willing to accept. The he did but also for what he said he performance ofthe officers and men had done. No doubt that is a of 5 CIB bears witness to their mong the vast number ofbooks problem for all those who are forbearance in the face of the Arecently published about the tempted to write their memoirs, staggering odds stacked against Second World War, a large number which nowadays seems to be a them emanating paradoxically at are biographies of Churchill or substantial portion of the times from the pettiness and analyses of his place in that strug­ population, but a book about incompetence of some of their own gle, a reasonable enough endeavour Churchill, his actions and memoirs superiors. Had they been trained in that not even his harshest critics can still create enough interest to in the best way to meet the realities can deny his importance in World get the author close to the best­ of the battlefield? At a very heavy War Two. seller list. cost, they bested those who had for too long been considered the best. The immediate reaction to the That Churchill had enormous The leadership, Copp correctly selection of books on Churchill influence on the direction of the concludes, had been much too slow reviewed below is that, with one British war effort has not yet been in realizing the absolute need for exception, they add little to the called into question, at least not in adequate force-ratios to overcome vast body ofmaterial which already the four books reviewed below. He well-equipped and desperate exists on the subject of Churchill was aware that "running" a war defensive forces. and the war in general. was not an easy matter, as he had personally experienced in World Gil Drolet is a retired Professor of Churchill was a prolific writer War One during his somewhat War Literature at Le College and he has left behind a huge body disastrous stint as First Lord of militaire royal de Saint-Jean. He of written material. Moreover he the Admiralty. He was also aware has a special interest in the French rushed to publish his memoirs that strategy and war-making only Canadian infantry regiments of the immediately after the Second look easy "That is why critics can Second World War. World War as well as after the write so cogently, and yet successful 128 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1993 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 2 [1993], Iss. 2, Art. 20 performers are so rare."2 The same which seem to add little to what is comment might well be made about already well known, although they writers, particularly perhaps, contain very few instances where writers and historians whose one can seriously quarrel with the subject is Winston Churchill and authors. Perhaps R.V. Jones's, his wars. These fall into a number "Churchill and Science," should be of categories: 1) Those who are singled out as an essay which does concerned with trying to deal not even live up to its title- it is seriously with some issues of his really an essay about the career which might need some relationship between Churchill and further exploration; 2) Those who Lindemann and not a very useful have some special case to make one at that. It does not deal with about a particular but naturally the really important issues-such crucial aspect of his work; 3) Those as "Operational Research"-which who seem to write simply because is surely as important an aspect of so many others have and 4) Those Churchill's use of science as who have some contemporary Lindemann's ability to calculate political axe to grind and want to the amount of champagne use him for that purpose. Churchill had drunk - an extremely well-worn story. Churchill: A Major Reassessment of his Life in Peace On the other hand, Addison ideas of historians who have made and War, edited by Robert Blake provides a very useful and effective distinguished contributions in their and Roger Louis is the result of a summary ofhis latest book,4 which fields. Individually some of the conference held at the University should provide much food for essays are often highly critical of of Texas in March 1991 and clearly thought for those who see Churchill Churchill but collectively, as the falls into the first category. It was only as a somewhat flamboyant editors point out in their a gathering of some of the most warrior. D.C. Watt's essay on introduction: distinguished historians of the Appeasement is critical but fair, as period and the book reflects the is Hinsley's on Intelligence. Blake The book pays tribute to his expertise which they brought to provides a meticulous and detailed stature, though sometimes the the conference. There are twenty­ account of Churchill's succession investigation is critical and the nine different essays, each dealing to Chamberlain in May 1940, which judgements are unflattering. The with a particular aspect of is an important balance to the often critical line of approach must not be misinterpreted as an attempt Churchill's life and career. The held view that his succession was to diminish Churchill's reputation. essays are naturally rather uneven both popular and inevitable. On the contrary, when subjected in quality-Craig manages to write Keegan has perhaps the most to scrutiny in the light ofhistorical about Churchill's view of Germany difficult task because of the vast evidence, Churchill emerges with without dealing with literature in the field of both his integrity and his "unconditional surrender" or Churchillian strategy. He offers a greatness intact. [p.8] "strategic bombing" in a rather reasonable account of an often innocuous essay on an important highly emotional and controversial It remains to be said that it is subject; Johnson similarly has very subject, which includes everything a pity that neither Martin Gilbert, little new to say about Churchill's from strategic bombing, the the author of the massive relationship with France; Pelling, "Second Front," and the "authorized" biography nor any of dealing with Churchill and the Mediterranean strategy to the the now fairly numerous detractors Labour Party, leaves out what is Balkans and Churchill's relations were present at the conference. surely one of the most important with Stalin. elements of that relationship, Tuvia Ben-Moshe's book namelythatofChurchill andAttlee This is not a book which can Churchill: Strategy and History during the War itself;3 Michael easily be read in a single sitting belongs in many respects to the Howard contributes a somewhat but it will surely become a serious second category.