Churchill's Speech After The Battle Of Dunkirk

June 28, 1919 was a historic day for the world. That fateful day, the Allies forced the Germans to sign the Treaty of Versailles, an agreement to make amends for their part in ‘The war to end all wars.’ Consequently, the treaty also enabled a tenacious tyrant, Adolf Hitler, to rise to power in poverty-stricken Germany. Instead of honoring the treaty, Hitler conquered neighboring countries, and eventually, France and Great Britain had no choice but to declare war. Germany immediately targeted France, forcing the British, French and Belgian soldiers to conduct a desperate attempt to stop the Germans, but they were outwitted and forced to retreat up to Dunkirk near the English Channel. Completely surrounded, the army desperately called for help, …show more content…
His call for ships to rescue the stranded army on the beaches of Dunkirk caused an instantaneous reaction. The Navy provided 220 warships and 650 other vessels with men answered the call. Their bravery was evident, not only because they answered the call for help, but what Churchill omitted in his speech was the longevity of the rescue. The entire evacuation persisted for nine perilous days (Churchill). Nine days for the Navy to wait off the coast like sitting ducks, constantly under fire from the Luftwaffe (German airplanes) while trying to ensure the escape of the 355,000 men surrounded on the beach. Not wanting to slight the impact the Navy made, Churchill made sure to include forceful words that revealed his appreciation for their efforts. He described his faith and gratitude toward the sailors saying their perilous trips demonstrated an example of their “devotion” and “courage” stating that they “never faltered in their duty.” They were undeterred by how exposed they left themselves. Churchill’s expressive word choice demonstrated his sincere gratitude and faith toward the military and shed them in a positive light that left people feeling more assurance in the capabilities of the military as a whole. Focusing on the miracle …show more content…
Shortly after the retreat at Dunkirk, Germans invaded Britain, but were unable to subdue the British’s perseverance. Churchill’s inspirational speech motivated the British, and they fought with renewed vigor. His confidence in the military after the retreat and in their ability to defend Britain and continue the war was made evident through the use of statistics he presented, words he selected to describe the military, repetition of his unwavering faith in them, and his optimistic attitude for the future of the war. His speech encourages people to keep pushing on when times are tough still