PART 3 World War II and Its Aftermath
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PART 3 World War II and Its Aftermath It’s a Long, Long Way, 1941. Henry Lamb. Oil on canvas. South African National Gallery, Cape Town. “What is absurd and monstrous about war is that men who have no personal quarrel should be trained to murder one another in cold blood.” —Aldous Huxley, “Words and Behavior” 1165 Henry Lamb/ South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa/Bridgeman Art Library 11165165 U6P3-845482.inddU6P3-845482.indd Sec2:1165Sec2:1165 11/29/07/29/07 1:57:121:57:12 PMPM BEFORE YOU READ Be Ye Men of Valor MEET WINSTON CHURCHILL “ lood, toil, tears, and sweat.” These unforget- Political Career Churchill’s military experience table words of Winston Churchill were not and his background as a writer gave him a unique Bmerely a rallying cry, but his approach to advantage in the political realm. He served in life. He is perhaps one of the most renowned prime numerous positions in Parliament, including home ministers of Great Britain, inspiring a nation and secretary, first lord of the Admiralty, minister of leading it to victory in the face of World War II. munitions, secretary of state for war and air, and secretary for the colonies. In 1940 Churchill became prime minister just as the Germans invaded Belgium—a post he held until the end of the war and “You ask, what is our aim? I can the defeat of the Axis powers. answer in one word: Victory—victory A Literary Knight At the age of seventy-one, at all costs, victory in spite of all Churchill was voted out of office as prime min ister, terror; victory, however long and hard but he was reelected six years later. In 1953 the road may be.” he was knighted and awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work on history and politics, —Winston Churchill The Second World War (published in six volumes, 1948–1953), in particular. Ten years later Churchill left Lasting Influences Churchill’s childhood pro- public office foundly influenced his beliefs and career (in addi- to spend his tion to his political positions, Churchill was a last years soldier, journalist, writer, historian, and painter). writing, paint- Born to Lord Randolph Churchill, a conservative ing, and trav- member of Parliament, and the American heiress eling. The Jennie Jerome, Churchill was unable to form a bond scope of his with either of his parents, particularly his aloof achievements father, whom he greatly admired. From an early age impacted not he was fascinated with soldiers and historic battles, only England and his father enrolled him in England’s Royal but the entire Military College at Sandhurst. After graduation world. Churchill served as a junior officer in the British Winston army and later as a war correspondent in Cuba, Churchill was India, and South Africa. After his famous escape born in 1874 and from a Pretoria prisoner-of-war camp, Churchill died in 1965. used the profits from his writings and lectures to pursue a career in politics. Throughout his career— even after his father’s death—Churchill’s political interests would mirror those of his father. Author Search For more about Winston Churchill, go to www.glencoe.com. 1166 UNIT 6 THE MODERN AGE Art Resource, NY 11166-1172166-1172 U6P3App-845482.inddU6P3App-845482.indd 11661166 66/27/06/27/06 3:37:033:37:03 PMPM LITERATURE PREVIEW READING PREVIEW Connecting to the Speech Reading Strategy Distinguishing Fact and Early in Churchill’s career as prime minister, his cour- Opinion age was tested by World War II. What major event has A fact is a statement that can be proved true. An tested your courage? As you read, think about the fol- opinion, however, is a statement of someone’s per- lowing questions: sonal beliefs or feelings, and it cannot be proved. • How did you respond to the event? • If you could relive the experience, how might you Reading Tip: Taking Notes Use a chart to distinguish respond differently? facts from opinions in Churchill’s speech. Building Background Fa c t s Opinions During World War II, Churchill inspired the English peo- ple with his words of patriotism and hope. Delivered “our heavy “It would be foolish, on May 19, 1940, “Be Ye Men of Valor” was Churchill’s bombers are however, to disguise first radio broadcast to the British public as prime min- striking nightly . .” the gravity of the ister. In the speech Churchill insists on victory, and he hour.” refuses to negotiate or compromise with Adolf Hitler. Initially Churchill believed Britain would be fighting the Nazis alone. “There is one thing that will bring Hitler down, and that is an absolutely devastating, extermi- Vocabulary nating attack by very heavy bombers from this country upon the Nazi homeland,” Churchill wrote, describing ravage (rav ij) v. to lay waste to; to destroy; the bombing plan. He was still carrying out these strat- p. 1169 The air raids will ravage the city, destroy- egies when the United States joined the war after the ing churches, homes, and factories. attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. grapple (rap əl) v. to attempt to deal with; to struggle; p. 1169 He grappled with the idea of Setting Purposes for Reading conceding but realized victory was the only option. Big Idea World War II and Its Aftermath imperious (im pe¯re¯ əs) adj. imperative; urgent; As you read, notice how Churchill inspires confidence p. 1171 The nation faced imperious problems and and courage in the British people. needed to utilize all of its resources to survive. indomitable (in dom ə tə bəl) adj. incapable of Literary Element Rhetoric being subdued or overcome; p. 1171 The cap- Rhetoric is the art of using language to present facts tain infused an indomitable spirit in his men. and ideas in order to persuade an audience. As you Vocabulary Tip: Context Clues Context clues are read Churchill’s speech, notice how he combines logic, words and sentences surrounding an unfamiliar emotion, and artful phrases to inform the public about word that can help you determine the meaning of the German advance and to express his confidence in that word. his troops and the Allied cause. • See Literary Terms Handbook, p. R15. Interactive Literary Elements Handbook To review or learn more about the literary elements, go to www.glencoe.com. OBJECTIVES In studying this selection, you will focus on the following: • understanding rhetoric and rhetorical devices • reading and analyzing a historic speech • distinguishing fact and opinion WINSTON CHURCHILL 1167 11166-1172166-1172 U6P3App-845482.inddU6P3App-845482.indd 11671167 11/10/07/10/07 11:00:4411:00:44 AMAM Prime Minister Churchill inspects a bomb crater. Winston Churchill 1168 1168-1171 U6P3 Sel-845482.indd 1168 6/27/06 3:54:41 PM BBC, LONDON, 19 MAY 1940 are therefore in an extremely dangerous position. And if the French Army, and our own Army, I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister are well handled, as I believe they will be; if in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of the French retain that genius for recovery and our Empire, of our Allies,1 and, above all, of the counter-attack for which they have so long been cause of Freedom. A tremendous battle is raging famous; and if the British Army shows the dogged in France and Flanders. The Germans, by a endurance and solid fighting power of which remarkable combination of air bombing and there have been so many examples in the past— heavily armored tanks, have broken through then a sudden transformation of the scene might the French defenses north of the Maginot Line,2 spring into being. and strong columns of their armored vehicles are It would be foolish, however, to disguise the ravaging the open country, which for the first gravity4 of the hour. It would be still more foolish day or two was without to lose heart and cour- defenders. They have age or to suppose that penetrated deeply and “No officer or man, well-trained, well- spread alarm and confu- no brigade or division, equipped armies num- sion in their track. bering three or four Behind them there are which grapples at close millions of men can be now appearing infantry quarters with the enemy, overcome in the space in lorries,3 and behind of a few weeks, or even them, again, the large wherever encountered, months, by a scoop, or masses are moving for- can fail to make a worthy raid of mechanized ward. The regroupment vehicles, however for- of the French armies to contribution to the midable.5 We may look make head against, and general result.” with confidence to the also to strike at, this stabilization of the intruding wedge has Front in France, and to been proceeding for several days, largely assisted the general engagement of the masses, which by the magnificent efforts of the Royal Air Force. will enable the qualities of the French and We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated British soldiers to be matched squarely against by the presence of these armored vehicles in those of their adversaries.6 For myself, I have unexpected places behind our lines. If they are invincible confidence in the French Army and behind our Front, the French are also at many its leaders. Only a very small part of that splendid points fighting actively behind theirs. Both sides army has yet been heavily engaged; and only a very small part of France has yet been invaded. There is good evidence to show that practically 1.