ever quitting. Often amistake in judgment led to temporary dormancy, but after he regained his peers’ trust, hereturned a stronger man. Churchill’s first significant political setback came with thefailure of his Dardanelles campaign during the first World War. “He overestimatedknowledge and capacities; once enamored by an idea and a plan, his total concentrationon it and devotion hindered him” (James, 1970). The campaign discredited Churchill, butas mentioned before, he joined the trench fighting to earn back the respect of his peersand soon rejoined the House of Commons. In a span of eight years, 1924 through 1932,Churchill was dismissed from the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, and the newlyformed Labor Party would have nothing to do with him. Discouraged but confident,Churchill spent time with his writing and his family, while silently awaiting his country toneed his unique energy and boldness. World War II provided that opportunity. When Churchill became Prime Minister, Germany was on the verge of Europeanconquest. Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France had been beaten and GreatBritain was the next logical step. But German air raids, as well as a wounded army werenot enough to make Britain surrender. Churchill was sure that the superiority of the RoyalNavy would decide the battle of Britain. Churchill himself said, “wage war until victory iswon, and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost andagony may be . . . Conquer we must–conquer we shall” (Bonham-Carter, 1965). Naziresistance was truly Britain’s finest hour. “They dug the dead and the living from therubble, manned their beaches, tightened their belts, and watched spellbound theaerobatics overhead of Fighter Command's fighting–and eventually winning–the Battle ofBritain” (Keegan, 2000). While Churchill was using his famous oratories to maintainBritish hope...
