OCR Specification focus:
‘Attitude towards Germany after 1933; why Churchill became Prime Minister.’
Winston Churchill’s attitude to Germany after 1933 and his eventual rise to premiership in 1940 represent a pivotal shift in British political history.
Churchill’s Attitude to Germany after 1933
When Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933, Churchill was already deeply concerned about the direction of German politics. While many British politicians saw Hitler as a potential bulwark against communism, Churchill quickly recognised the dangers of Nazism and the regime’s aggressive ambitions.
Alarm over German Rearmament
By 1934, Churchill was warning about German rearmament, especially its secretive military developments that contravened the Treaty of Versailles.
Churchill argued that German efforts to rebuild their air force and army posed a direct threat to European stability.
He consistently raised these issues in Parliament, often clashing with his own Conservative Party leadership.
Treaty of Versailles: The 1919 peace settlement ending World War I, imposing strict disarmament, territorial losses, and reparations on Germany.
While many dismissed his speeches as alarmist, later revelations confirmed his assessments. He relied heavily on contacts in the armed forces and intelligence services to support his claims.
Criticism of Appeasement
From the mid-1930s, Churchill became the leading critic of appeasement — the policy of making concessions to Hitler in order to avoid conflict.
He attacked the government’s handling of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936).
He strongly opposed the Munich Agreement of 1938, warning that sacrificing Czechoslovakia would only encourage Hitler’s aggression.
Churchill emphasised the need for collective security through alliances and rearmament rather than concessions.
For Churchill, the lesson of the 1930s was clear: the longer Britain delayed rearming and resisting, the stronger Germany would become.
Group photograph of the Munich Conference participants on 29 September 1938: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, and Mussolini. The agreement ceded the Sudetenland to Germany in the hope of preserving peace. This image directly illustrates the policy Churchill opposed. Source
Isolation from Mainstream Politics
Despite his warnings, Churchill spent much of the 1930s in what became known as his ‘wilderness years’.
Conservative leaders like Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain believed his views were out of step with public opinion, which favoured peace.
His earlier controversial stances — such as opposing Indian self-government — damaged his political credibility.
He was seen as a maverick, more interested in rhetoric than practical policy.
Nevertheless, Churchill’s relentless focus on Germany kept his profile alive and made him a symbol of resistance against appeasement.
The Road to the Premiership
The Outbreak of War
When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, Britain declared war. This was the collapse of appeasement and vindicated Churchill’s long-standing warnings.
Chamberlain recalled Churchill to government as First Lord of the Admiralty, a position he had last held during World War I.
Churchill was instantly popular with the public, symbolised by the Admiralty’s signal: “Winston is back.”
Failures of Chamberlain’s Leadership
The early months of war, known as the ‘Phoney War’, eroded confidence in Chamberlain. His hesitant leadership style contrasted sharply with Churchill’s energy and determination.
The disastrous Norwegian campaign of 1940 further undermined Chamberlain. Churchill bore some responsibility, but his strong advocacy of decisive action highlighted his differences from the Prime Minister.
By spring 1940, with Hitler advancing through Europe, Chamberlain lost the support of many MPs.
Churchill’s Appointment as Prime Minister
On 10 May 1940, as Germany launched its invasion of France and the Low Countries, Chamberlain resigned. Churchill was chosen as Prime Minister because:
He had consistently opposed appeasement and been proven right.
His reputation for determination and oratory suggested he could rally the nation.
Labour refused to serve under Chamberlain, but accepted Churchill, enabling the formation of a wartime coalition government.
Lord Halifax, another candidate, declined the role, clearing the way for Churchill.
Churchill’s premiership thus emerged directly from the crisis created by German expansion and Britain’s need for a resolute leader.
The Churchill Coalition War Cabinet, photographed shortly after the formation of the national government in May 1940. Seated centre is Winston Churchill, flanked by Clement Attlee and Anthony Eden, with key ministers including Ernest Bevin and Lord Beaverbrook. The image captures the leadership team that guided Britain through 1940–41. Source
Churchill’s Leadership Qualities and Public Perception
Churchill’s rise was not simply a matter of events but also of personal qualities that resonated in 1940.
His oratory inspired public confidence at a time of national peril.
His reputation as a man of action contrasted with the cautious approach of his predecessors.
His deep knowledge of military affairs, though sometimes controversial, gave him authority in strategic decision-making.
Appeasement: A diplomatic policy of making concessions to dictatorial powers in order to avoid conflict, notably applied by Britain towards Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
By May 1940, Churchill’s long years of political marginalisation were reversed, and his stance on Germany had transformed him from outcast to indispensable national leader.
FAQ
Many politicians viewed Hitler primarily as a defence against communism, which they feared more than fascism.
There was also widespread disillusionment with war after 1918. Politicians believed the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles had provoked German grievances, so concessions seemed justified.
Churchill’s long history of political controversy made his warnings easier to dismiss as alarmist.
Churchill cultivated contacts within the armed forces, civil service, and intelligence networks.
He relied on leaked reports from the Air Ministry and sympathetic officers alarmed by Germany’s expanding Luftwaffe.
Though unofficial, these sources gave him credible data to challenge the government’s claims that rearmament was manageable.
The British public strongly supported peace, scarred by the memory of the First World War.
Peace ballot of 1935 showed majority preference for disarmament and negotiation.
Appeasement was popular because it promised stability without conflict.
Churchill’s confrontational tone clashed with this mood, leaving him politically isolated.
Halifax was Chamberlain’s preferred successor but declined the role.
He believed he lacked the authority to lead a coalition government.
As a peer in the House of Lords, he felt disconnected from Commons debates.
He also doubted his ability to inspire national morale in wartime.
This cleared the path for Churchill.
Although initially criticised, his speeches built a reputation for consistency and foresight.
He framed the Nazi threat as a moral as well as strategic danger.
His rhetoric highlighted Britain’s duty to act before it was too late.
When war came, his earlier speeches seemed prophetic, boosting his credibility.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which year did Churchill become Prime Minister of Britain?
Mark Scheme:
1940 = 2 marks
Any other answer = 0 marks
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why Churchill opposed the policy of appeasement in the 1930s.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 6 marks for explanation.
Identifies that appeasement encouraged Hitler’s aggression = 1 mark
Explains that Churchill believed appeasement abandoned smaller nations, e.g. Czechoslovakia at Munich = 1 mark
Explains that Churchill thought appeasement ignored the threat of German rearmament = 1 mark
Links appeasement to the failure to uphold the Treaty of Versailles = 1 mark
Explains that Churchill believed Britain needed to rearm and build alliances rather than concede = 1 mark
Provides a developed explanation showing how Churchill’s opposition was proven right by events such as the invasion of Poland = 1 mark
(Maximum 6 marks. Candidates may receive full marks without covering all points if explanations are well-developed.)
