The big surprise for many in the Nobel Prizes of the early cold war - this week’s post (1948-54) - was that Winston Churchill won the Literature Prize.
What is your opinion of Winston Churchill?
Splendid orator? Racist imperialist? Courageous defender of liberty? Great writer or pompous propagandist?
I am very ambivalent about Church. Many Brits of a slightly older generation venerate him, as the savior of Britain from the Germans. I think he was a warmonger and a lousy military leader. He was all image with his work ethic, cigar and speeches, while he put military forces in harms way and allowed starvation rations at home in the big cities.
However, as I say I'm ambivalent about that, but I do know the truth about the Dieppe raid prior to D Day. It was a fop to the Russians to distract some of Hitler's attention away to the west. The histories suggest it was all Montbatten's idea and fault that many British and Canadian troops were captured or killed, but he wasn't around to defend himself when the papers were released.
My father took part as a Chief Petty Officer of Gunnery on a frigate that attended the landings. Once the troops were on the beach the fleet of military ships expected to lay a barrage on the Germans and their artillery. However, once the troops were ashore, my father's commander called all hands on deck and opened sealed orders from admiralty. The commander read them out. To the consternation of the crew, they were to lay no barrage , but withdraw and return to Liverpool to pick up a convoy. The other ships had similar orders. Subsequently, the ship sail to the angered the crew, who for a few days were as near to mutiny my fatherhad ever seen on a British ship. The troops ashore were either killed or ended up in prisoner of war camps.
The orders were not signed by Montbatten, but by Churchill himself. This is largely unknown, I think. When my father related this to my grandfather, a WWI veteran, he said, "let's change the subject or I'll start about Churchill in the Great War".
You might like the Wheatcroft book I mention in the post because it explores the ambivalence and the myth-making about Churchill through a series of key moments in his career.
I am very ambivalent about Church. Many Brits of a slightly older generation venerate him, as the savior of Britain from the Germans. I think he was a warmonger and a lousy military leader. He was all image with his work ethic, cigar and speeches, while he put military forces in harms way and allowed starvation rations at home in the big cities.
However, as I say I'm ambivalent about that, but I do know the truth about the Dieppe raid prior to D Day. It was a fop to the Russians to distract some of Hitler's attention away to the west. The histories suggest it was all Montbatten's idea and fault that many British and Canadian troops were captured or killed, but he wasn't around to defend himself when the papers were released.
My father took part as a Chief Petty Officer of Gunnery on a frigate that attended the landings. Once the troops were on the beach the fleet of military ships expected to lay a barrage on the Germans and their artillery. However, once the troops were ashore, my father's commander called all hands on deck and opened sealed orders from admiralty. The commander read them out. To the consternation of the crew, they were to lay no barrage , but withdraw and return to Liverpool to pick up a convoy. The other ships had similar orders. Subsequently, the ship sail to the angered the crew, who for a few days were as near to mutiny my fatherhad ever seen on a British ship. The troops ashore were either killed or ended up in prisoner of war camps.
The orders were not signed by Montbatten, but by Churchill himself. This is largely unknown, I think. When my father related this to my grandfather, a WWI veteran, he said, "let's change the subject or I'll start about Churchill in the Great War".
You might like the Wheatcroft book I mention in the post because it explores the ambivalence and the myth-making about Churchill through a series of key moments in his career.
Thanks Jeff, I'll go and look for it.
How the British Invented Communism (And Blamed It on the Jews) https://amzn.asia/d/7FMhCoI
The more I learn about Churchill the more I loathe the man, the worst of the worst the British can only produce.
“How the British Invented Communism (And Blamed It on the Jews)”
The Untold Story of Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, MI6, and the Russian Revolution.
Richard Poe.
https://richardpoe.substack.com/p/how-the-british-invented-communism?utm_source=post-banner&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
Gold, Goats ‘n Guns Podcast Ep #171
Tom Luongo
- Richard Poe and Why All Roads Really Do Lead to London
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/gold-goats-n-guns-podcast/id1435023391?i=1000647838865