Question 1
Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that
Churchill was a great wartime leader.
Source A: Churchill speaks as PM for the first time to the House of Commons.
We are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history. I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this Government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and suffering. … You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs – victory in spite of terror – victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Churchill, speech, 13 May 1940
Source B: 
A Conservative M.P. who led Churchill’s critics in a censure debate in the House of Commons expresses criticisms of the running of the war.
The first mistake in the war was to combine the offices of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. I want a strong and independent defence minister, strong enough to see that his generals and admirals and air marshals are allowed to do their work in their own way and are not interfered with from above. How can we place reliance on judgement that has so repeatedly turned out to be misguided?
Sir John Wardlaw Milne, speech, June 1942
Source C: Britain’s senior soldier 1941–5 comments on Churchill.
[Churchill] has only got half the picture in his mind, talks absurdities and makes my blood boil to listen to his nonsense. I find it hard to remain civil. And the wonderful thing is that ¾ of the population of this world imagine that Winston Churchill is one of the strategists of History, and the other ¼ have no conception what a public menace he is and has been throughout the war! It is far better that the world should never suspect the feet of clay on that otherwise superhuman being. Without him England was lost for a certainty, with him England has been on the verge of disaster time and again.
Lord Alanbrooke, diary, 10 September 1944
Source D: 
The Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet recollects working with Churchill during the War.
Though he had somewhat old fashioned ideas of warfare he also succeeded in keeping abreast of new inventions, for example in radar, in air navigation and in new warships. Nothing fell outside the scope of his enquiring mind, and he had an energetic method of following up any matter which attracted his passing attention. We can only recall with gratitude the five years in which he inspired us by his leadership.
Sir Ian Jacob, Action This Day, Working with Churchill, 1968
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Answer
