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Раздел V

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Winston Churchill

One of the greatest statesmen who led Great Britain to victory in the Second World War was Sir Winston Churchill, a man of inexhaustible energy, a historian, a veteran of war and master of politics. He was an intense patriot and believed in his country's greatness and its historic role in Europe and in the world.

Winston Churchill was born on November 80, 1874 at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. After graduation from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, the young officer wanted to make his mark. He left for Cuba. He spent there a couple of months reporting the Cuban war of independence from Spain.. Later his regiment went to India where he was both soldier and journalist. lie also reported the South African War, Within a month after Ms arrival in South Africa he wen fame for his part in rescuing an armoured train and for his success in escaping from a Boar prison camp. He returned to Britain as a military hero. In 1890 he entered politics as a Conservative and won a seat in Parliament.

In the years that followed his government and political posts alternated with military ones, He remained outside the Government from 1929 to 1939, but he continued to hold a seat in Parliament and repeatedly warned of the menace of Nazi Germany.

On September 3, 1939 Great Britain declared war on Germany. Winston Churchill was reappointed to the Admirality, installed as prime minister and later took over the Ministry of Defence. When he faced the House of Commons for the first time as prime minister, he warned

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of the hard road ahead. "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat", he said. He announced his policy — "to wage war by sea, land and air" and proclaimed one aim — "victory at all costs, victory however long and hard the road may be". The commons gave him their unanimous vote of confidence.

While the Battle of Britain raged, Winston Churchill was everywhere — at military headquarters, inspecting coastal defences, anti-aircraft batteries, visiting scenes of bomb damage, smoking Ids cigar, giving his "V" sign and broadcasting frank reports to the nation. He was also the perfect personification of the people he led.

With military success in 1945 came political problems. Churchill's Conservative Party failed in the postwar period, but he led it back to office in 1951 and remained prime minister until 1955 when ill health forced him to resign.

He found pleasure in writing. The most important are his two masterpiece-} "The Second World War" and "A History of English Speaking Peoples". He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

In 1964 Churchill's health declined and his public appearances became rare. His death at his London home on January 24, 1965 was followed by a state funeral at which almost the whole world paid tribute. He was buried in the family grave in Blandon churchyard, Oxfordshire.

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