How Churchill became Prime Minister: The dramatic and sudden rise of a legendary leader

Born on November 30, 1874, into a prominent aristocratic family, Churchill's early life was one of privilege.

However, his political career commenced in 1900 when he was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Oldham.

Unfortunately, his initial relationship with the Conservative Party was complicated, as he disagreed with Conservative policies: particularly on free trade.

So, in 1904, he crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party.

Churchill's tenure with the Liberals saw him serve as Under-Secretary of State for thew Colonies, President of the Board of Trade, and Home Secretary.

In particular, during his time at the Board of Trade, beginning in 1908, he introduced several reforms, including the establishment of labor exchanges and the first minimum wage.

Then, in 1911, he became First Lord of the Admiralty. This a role in which he made significant contributions to modernizing the British Navy, a critical factor at the onset of World War I.

Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Churchill became involved in the controversial Gallipoli Campaign in 1915.

This operation aimed to secure a sea route to Russia, but the campaign's spectacular failure led to his resignation and temporarily tarnished his political reputation.

Churchill then returned to the army, serving as an officer on the Western Front until the end of 1916.

He then re-entering the government as Minister of Munitions in 1917, under Prime Minister David Lloyd George.

This role, and subsequent positions as Secretary of State for War and for the Colonies, helped rehabilitate his political standing.

After rejoining the Conservative Party in 1924, Churchill was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.

His tenure in this role, lasting until 1929, was marked by several key decisions, including the controversial return to the Gold Standard in 1925.

This decision was intended to stabilize the currency and restore London's position as a global financial center.

However, it also led to deflation, unemployment, and was blamed for deepening the economic depression in Britain.

The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 further strained the British economy, leading to widespread unemployment and social unrest.

During this period, Churchill found himself increasingly at odds with his party, particularly over issues like Indian home rule and protective tariffs.

His stance on these issues isolated him within the Conservative Party, and by the time the party returned to power in 1931, Churchill was no longer in the cabinet.

Then, throughout the 1930s, Churchill's focus shifted to international affairs, particularly the rise of Nazi Germany.

He was a vocal critic of the British government's policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler, arguing that it would lead to a catastrophic conflict.

His warnings, however, were largely dismissed by both the government and the public, who were weary of war and hopeful that peace could be maintained in Europe.

Churchill's stance on this issue made him a marginalized figure in British politics, with many viewing his hawkish views as alarmist.

Despite his political isolation, Churchill continued to voice his concerns about the growing threat of Nazi Germany.

He used his platform as a Member of Parliament and a public speaker to advocate for British rearmament and a stronger stance against Hitler.

As the 1930s drew to a close, the escalating aggression of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler reached a tipping point.

Despite efforts at appeasement by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, including the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938, Europe was inching inexorably towards war.

The situation deteriorated rapidly when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

In response, Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.

The early months of the war, often referred to as the "Phoney War," saw little actual fighting on the Western Front.

This period, however, was critical in shaping the political landscape of Britain.

Initially, there was a widespread belief and hope among the British public and politicians that the war could be resolved without extensive conflict.

Neville Chamberlain, as Prime Minister, continued to lead the country.

Recognizing his expertise in military matters and his vehement opposition to Nazi Germany, Chamberlain appointed Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty on September 3, 1939, the same day Britain declared war.

This was the same position Churchill had held at the start of World War I.

As a result, Churchill's appointment to the War Cabinet played a key role in shaping Britain's military response and strategic planning during these early stages of the war.

The political landscape in Britain during the early years of World War II was deeply complex.

At the helm was Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: a member of the Conservative Party.

Chamberlain's leadership was increasingly viewed as inadequate for the challenges posed by the global conflict, leading to a growing call for a change in leadership.

The British political system meant that the change in leadership would come from within the ranks of the existing government.

The two main political parties, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, held differing views on how to handle the war.

The Labour Party, along with a significant number of members from Chamberlain's own party, was increasingly critical of the Prime Minister's handling of the war effort.

This political climate was further complicated by the fact that Britain was not only fighting an external enemy but also dealing with internal challenges.

This involved managing the economy in wartime, safeguarding civilian morale, and handling the strategic decisions of the war effort.

The need for a coalition government that could unite the country and effectively prosecute the war became increasingly apparent.

Churchill, despite his previous political isolation due to his stance on Nazi Germany, began to emerge as a potential successor to Chamberlain.

His experience, particularly as First Lord of the Admiralty during the current war and in World War I and his unwavering opposition to the Nazis made him a strong candidate.

In addition, Churchill's ability to communicate effectively and inspire confidence played a significant role in his rise to prominence.

The critical turning point came in the spring of 1940, following the Norwegian Campaign: a disastrous military operation that aimed to counter the German invasion of Norway.

The campaign, which began in early April 1940, ended in failure with the Allies being forced to withdraw by early June.

This military debacle raised serious questions about the competence of Chamberlain's war leadership.

On May 7 and 8, 1940, a debate was held in Parliament, focusing on the Norwegian debacle.

During this debate, Chamberlain faced fierce criticism from members of all parties, including his own.

The most notable challenge came from Leo Amery, a member of his own party, who echoed Oliver Cromwell's words to the Long Parliament, urging Chamberlain to "go in the name of God, go."

The culmination of this debate was a vote of confidence, which Chamberlain won but with a drastically reduced majority.

This outcome, although technically a victory, was widely perceived as a vote of no confidence, as the narrow margin of victory (81 votes) was seen as insufficient in a time of war, especially considering the large majority his government had previously enjoyed.

Faced with a loss of support from both the opposition and his own party, Chamberlain realized that his position had become untenable.

Furthermore, the Labour and Liberal parties refused to serve in his government, making it clear that a national unity government could only be formed under a different Prime Minister.

Acknowledging the political reality, Chamberlain resigned on May 10, 1940.

The choice of Churchill as Chamberlain's successor was not a straightforward decision.

Chamberlain, despite his resignation, retained significant influence and favored Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, as his successor.

Halifax, a prominent member of the Conservative Party, was seen as a safe choice by many within the establishment.

However, Halifax himself was hesitant about taking the role, partly due to his own reservations about leading the country from the House of Lords, rather than the House of Commons.

On May 10, 1940, the same day as Chamberlain's resignation, King George VI invited Churchill to form a government.

Churchill immediately set about forming a coalition government, bringing together members from different political parties, including the Labour Party, which had refused to serve under Chamberlain.

Then, Churchill's first speech to the House of Commons as Prime Minister occurred on May 13, 1940.

He famously declared, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat," setting the tone for his leadership.

Immediately following his appointment on May 10, 1940, Churchill was thrust into the midst of a rapidly escalating war.

Europe was unraveling under the onslaught of Nazi Germany, and Britain faced the stark reality of standing alone against a formidable enemy.

One of Churchill's most immediate challenges was the dire situation in France.

German forces were advancing rapidly, and the fall of France seemed imminent.

In these critical days, Churchill's speeches to Parliament and the British public were attempting to generate a sense of resolve and defiance in the face of adversity.

Then, the months of May and June of 1940 saw some of the most pivotal events of World War II, including the Dunkirk evacuation.

From May 26 to June 4, 1940, in an operation codenamed Dynamo, more than 300,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in northern France.

This was a tactical retreat, bit it was turned into a story of heroic salvation under Churchill's leadership.

His speech following the evacuation, where he declared that "we shall fight on the beaches...we shall never surrender".

Some members of Parliament and even figures within his own cabinet were skeptical of his aggressive stance against Germany and feared that it would bring further destruction to Britain.

In fact, the debate over whether to negotiate with Hitler was a significant point of contention.

Churchill, however, remained resolute in his belief that any form of negotiation with Nazi Germany was unacceptable.

He argued that it would only lead to the downfall of Britain and the enslavement of Europe.

In these early days, Churchill was under no illusions about the severity of Britain's situation.

In fact, things were about to get much worse when the Battle of Britain began.