SoundsinHistory

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Sounds of History

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

Excerpts from Churchill's May 13th 1940 Speech

"Today is Trinity Sunday...."
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"Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war.".

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen - God bless them!"

"Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago, words were written to be a call and a stir to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice - "Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valor - and be in readiness for the conflict - for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our Nation and our altars. As the will of God is in Heaven, even so, let Him do.".

May 13th 1940, Churchill makes his first speech as Prime Minister with this address to the House of Commons. As audio and film recordings of sessions of the Commons were forbidden, this speech, along with other House of Commons speeches on this page, were reenacted by Churchill years later to commit them to audio documentation.

"You ask 'what is our policy?' I will say 'it is to wage war by sea, land and air, with all our might, and with all the strength that God can give us - to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime.' That is our policy."

"You ask 'what is our aim?' I can answer in one word - 'victory'! Victory at all costs! Victory in spite of all terror! Victory however long and hard the road may be! For without victory, there is no survival."

"Having received His Majesty's commission, I have formed an administration of men and women of every party and of almost every point of view."
"We have differed and quarreled in the past, but now one bond unites us all - to wage war until victory is won - and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost and the agony may be."

"Behind us, behind the armies and fleets of Britain and France, gather a group of shattered states and bludgeoned races - the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians - upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken, even by a star of hope, unless we conquer - as conquer we must - as conquer we shall."

May 19, 1940: First broadcast to the Nation as Prime Minister; a consolation to the British people regarding the Military defeats of the Allies in France

"I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our Empire, of our Allies, and above all, of the cause of Freedom."

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