Winston, I deeply thank you. I really think without you our world should be now far worse. You have been the one, the sole one who defended the human values on which we all should seek.
yes, you may be right somehow. Nevertherless, for a crucial period he stood alone saved the world from the nazism, that is worse of his beliefs. Some others, not dinosaurs, choosen the ignominy.
***** Remember, too, his time was in the 19th Century, not so much the 20th. People learn to be what they are in their early years and he carried what he learned about life through from then.
I for one am thankful for the world we live in which almost entirely a creation of the British Empire and the British Industrial revolution. All you post modern anti colonial whiners can give up your cars, your fossil fuels, your grocery stores and your global economy. Only then will your behavior match your "morality." Thank you Britain, thank you Lord Churchill. What language do you speak?
There's some utter tripe written above. Your allegedly superior production would have amounted to nothing without inventions like the steam engine. The amount the world takes for granted that came from one small island in the Atlantic. Think about that next time you see someone riding a bicycle to work...
Penguin Lives Matter Churchill was a Great War time PM however he wasn’t very good after the war. That doesn’t mean that his previous accomplishments should be forgotten. He achieved so much as PM during the war!
@@penguinlivesmatter215 It actually wasn't his fault. Bengal was on the frontline with Japan meaning that many crops were destroyed in the fighting. Grain was diverted due to the fact that it would take far longer for grain to come from Canada and the United States than it would from the grain he had already sent from Australia. He is in no way responsible for the famine and the idea that he is a complete fallacy.
This man is a hero to Britain and the western freedom. And all this idiots trying to claim he's a racist are utter clowns. If it wasn't for this man and his show of courage and defiance to this nation under the act of war then we would be slaves to Germany. Could you really imagine Cameron doing what this man did? He hasn't even got the backbone to stand up to the EU nevermind an enemy! Believe me when I say this we are at war with extremists! And until we have someone to stand up and show defiance to it in our government we shall forever be under this act of war.
I agree, I couldn't see David Cameron emanating Churchill, but I could see Nigel Farage, ppl say he's rich and an ex banker but I believe he does care about Britain
You know what tho labour and Tory are no good either, so my opinion is give him a go see if he can take it to the establishment as he says, and if he turns out to be a whipping boy full of false hope like Obama then we've learnt our lesson and let's try the greens next time in 2019
Thanks Winston. Your words of old give me strength for today. I think we need to live beyond just empty hope, but need to buckle down make good solid decisions and move forward.
Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Im a proud America but I am certainly envious of you guys for having this briliant man as a leader. We could use a man like him over here right now. Hey England, thanks. Thanks for all you've done for us and with us. Much Love.
Ade Larsen Hmmmm, maybe not Tenents...but if in Scotland then I can recommend anything from the Black Isle Brewery or from Mad Dog!! Never tried the Hanbury...I shall seek it out :o)
Tillythedogsdad You might have problem getting the Hanbury Truman ale's these days..... :-) Smile and keep drinking :-) Beer will save the world - I don't know how but it will - So do your part and buy a 6 pack today.
I googled Hanbury Truman on your recommendation...me and the wife are down in London 7th Nov. I was hoping to find a pint but it seems no-one has taken over the beers and the brewery has gone :o( Oh well, I'm still smiling:o) Any other recommendations for a proper London brew that isn't national or global? If you're ever in N Yorkshire contact me, we'll take you on a brewery heaven tour!!
you fail so much it makes me cringe,Next Churchill turned to famine relief. Canada had offered aid, but in thanking Prime Minister MacKenzie King, Churchill noted a shipping problem: “Wheat from Canada would take at least two months to reach India whereas it could be carried from Australia in 3 to 4 weeks. At Churchill’s urging, Australia promised 350,000 tons of wheat. Churchill feared a resultant loss of war shipments between Canada and Australia, but King assured him there would be no shortfall. Canada’s contribution, he said, would pay “dividends in humanitarian aspects….”. The famine continued into 1944, causing Secretary of State for India Leopold Amery to request one million tons of grain. Churchill, who had been studying consumption statistics, now believed India was receiving more than she would need. He remained concerned about the shipping problem, “given the effect of its diversion alike on operations and on our imports of food into this country, which could be further reduced only at the cost of much suffering.'' The Cabinet cited other causes of the famine rarely mentioned in latter-day denunciations of Churchill: the shortages were “partly political in character, caused by Marwari supporters of Congress [Gandhi’s party] in an effort to embarrass the existing Muslim Government of Bengal.” Another cause, they added, was corrupt local officials: “The Government of India were unduly tender with speculators and hoarders.” Amery and Wavell continued to press for wheat, and in the Cabinet of February 14th Churchill tried to accommodate them. While shipping difficulties were “very real,” Churchill said, he was “most anxious that we should do everything possible to ease the Viceroy’s position. No doubt the Viceroy felt that if this corner could be turned, the position next year would be better.” Churchill added that “refusal of India’s request was not due to our underrating India’s needs, but because we could not take operational risks by cutting down the shipping required for vital operations.'' The war pressed Britain on all sides; shipping was needed everywhere. Indeed, at the same time as India was demanding another million tons, Churchill was fending off other demands: “I have been much concerned at the apparently excessive quantities of grain demanded by Allied HQ for civilians in Italy, which impose a great strain on our shipping and finances,” he wrote War Secretary Sir James Grigg. “Will you let me have, at the earliest possible moment…estimates of the amount of food which is really needed….” A month later Churchill was hoping India had turned the corner when his Minister of War Transport, Frederick Leathers, reported “statistically a surplus of food grains in India.” Still, Leathers emphasized “the need for imported wheat on psychological grounds.” What were they? Amery explained that “the peasant in 750,000 villages” might hold back “his small parcel of grain” if no outside aid was in sight. He said he could ship 200,000 tons, “provided that the twenty-five ships required were surplus to the Army’s needs.” But Amery wanted double that quantity. Again trying to help, the Cabinet suggested that India had underestimated its rice crop. While agreeing to send the 200,000 tons, Churchill told Amery he could get another 150,000 tons from Ceylon in exchange for excess rice: “The net effect, counting 50,000 tons previously arranged [was] 400,000 tons of wheat.” In April, it was Lord Wavell asking not for 400,000 but 724,000 tons! Now the problem was unseasonable weather and a deadly explosion in the Bombay Docks, which destroyed 50,000 tons of food grains.. Peasants were still holding back their crops, he said; rumors were circulating “that London had refused to ask America for help.” The exasperated Cabinet retorted: “If we now approached the United States and they were unable to help, it would at least dispel that allegation.” One can sense Churchill’s frustration. Whatever they did, however they wriggled, they could not appease the continued demands from India-even after calculations showed that the shortage had been eased. Churchill agreed to write President Roosevelt for help, and replace the 45,000 tons lost in the explosion. But he “could only provide further relief for the Indian situation at the cost of incurring grave difficulties in other directions.” As good as his word, and despite preoccupation with the upcoming invasion of France, Churchill wrote FDR. No one, reading his words, can be in doubt about his sympathies: Have a read before making dumb comments
your bullshit british propoganda is not going to work here. The Bengal Famine: How the British engineered the worst genocide in human history for profit The British had a ruthless economic agenda when it came to operating in India and that did not include empathy for native citizens. Under the British Raj, India suffered countless famines. But the worst hit was Bengal. The first of these was in 1770, followed by severe ones in 1783, 1866, 1873, 1892, 1897 and lastly 1943-44. Previously, when famines had hit the country, indigenous rulers were quick with useful responses to avert major disasters. After the advent of British rule, most of the famines were a consequence of monsoonal delays along with the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by the British for their own financial gain. Yet they did little to acknowledge the havoc these actions wrought. If anything, they were irritated at the inconveniences in taxation the famines brought about. The first of these famines was in 1770 and was ghastly brutal. The first signs indicating the coming of such a huge famine manifested in 1769 and the famine itself went on till 1773. It killed approximately 10 million people, millions more than the Jews incarcerated during the Second World War. It wiped out one-third the population of Bengal. John Fiske, in his book “The Unseen World”, wrote that the famine of 1770 in Bengal was far deadlier than the Black Plague that terrorised Europe in the fourteenth century. Under the Mughal rule, peasants were required to pay a tribute of 10-15 percent of their cash harvest. This ensured a comfortable treasury for the rulers and a wide net of safety for the peasants in case the weather did not hold for future harvests. In 1765, the Treaty of Allahabad was signed and the East India Company took over the task of collecting the tributes from the then Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Overnight the tributes, the British insisted on calling them tributes and not taxes for reasons of suppressing rebellion, increased to 50 percent. The peasants were not even aware that the money had changed hands. They paid, still believing that it went to the Emperor. Partial failure of crops was quite a regular occurrence in the Indian peasant’s life. That is why the surplus stock, which remained after paying the tributes, was so important to their livelihood. But with the increased taxation, this surplus deteriorated rapidly. When partial failure of crops came in 1768, this safety net was no longer in place. The rains of 1769 were dismal and herein the first signs of the terrible drought began to appear. The famine occurred mainly in the modern states of West Bengal and Bihar but also hit Orissa, Jharkhand and Bangladesh. Bengal was the worst hit. Among the worst affected areas were Birbum and Murshidabad in Bengal. Thousands migrated from the area in hopes of finding sustenance elsewhere, only to die of starvation later on. Those who stayed on perished nonetheless. Huge tracts of farmland were abandoned. Wilderness started to thrive here, resulting in deep and inhabitable jungle areas. Tirhut, Champaran and Bettiah in Bihar were similarly affected. Prior to this, whenever the possibility of a famine had emerged, the Indian rulers would waive their taxes and see compensatory measures, such as irrigation, instituted to provide as much relief as possible to the stricken farmers. The colonial rulers continued to ignore any warnings that came their way regarding the famine, although starvation had set in from early 1770. Then the deaths started in 1771. That year, the Company raised the land tax to 60 percent in order to recompense themselves for the lost lives of so many peasants. Fewer peasants resulted in fewer crops, which in turn meant less revenue. Hence the ones who had not yet succumbed to the famine had to pay even greater taxes so as to ensure that the British treasury did not suffer any losses during this travesty. After taking over from the Mughal rulers, the British had issued widespread orders for cash crops to be cultivated. These were intended to be exported. Thus, farmers who were used to growing paddy and vegetables were now being forced to cultivate indigo, poppy and other such items that yielded a high market value for them but could be of no relief to a population starved of food. There was no backup of edible crops in case of a famine. The natural causes that had contributed to the drought were commonplace. It was the single-minded motive for profit that wrought such devastating consequences. No relief measure was provided for those affected. Rather, as mentioned above, taxation was increased to make up for any shortfall in revenue. What is even more ironic is that the East India Company generated higher profits in 1771 than they did in 1768. Although the starved populace of Bengal did not know it yet, this was just the first of umpteen famines, caused solely by the motive for profit, that were to scourge the country side. Although all these massacres were deadly in their own right, the deadliest one to occur after 1771 was in 1943, when three million people died and others resorted to eating grass and human flesh in order to survive. Winston Churchill, the hallowed British War prime minister who saved Europe from a monster like Hitler was disturbingly callous about the roaring famine that was swallowing Bengal’s population. He casually diverted the supplies of medical aid and food that was being dispatched to the starving victims to the already well supplied soldiers of Europe. When entreated upon, he said, “Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits.” The Delhi Government sent a telegram to him painting a picture of the horrible devastation and the number of people who had died. His only response was, “Then why hasn’t Gandhi died yet?" It is worthwhile to remember that the riches of the West were built on the graves of the East.
RESPECT FROM PORTUGAL!!! This guy is just inspiration from every way of the word! Every british should be PROUD of him. Im not british, but I respect HIM a LOT. A BIG EXAMPLE... LISSSTTEEENNN!!!
I think this is a timeless speech, It says what all should say to oppressors and those that would enslave "We the People", to the tyrants and butchers. We will preserver and overcome.
I want to dedicate this to the members of the gay community in light of the mass shooting in Orlando FL We must not retreat back into the closet we must stand united we must not give into our fears and anxieties we have come to far to take a step back NEVER GIVE IN !
Churchill was a fantastic leader! He got us through the storm that is war and he did it well. I've gotta admit, he is an inspiration, despite what many haters say.
Great Speaker. I admire him totally. He was a bipolar sufferer. He had, often, terrible depression that he called "The Black Dog". But he was pretty amazing, carrying on as long as he did.
Few speeches have had as much importance and power as this. It is a speech of freedom, honour, and willingness to sacrifice oneself for others. No-one should look at this and see it as an excuse to be racist, or big-headed. I see how many people who have made these comments are my fellow British, and if all you care about is spouting hate, then i am truly ashamed of you
Don't want to get embroiled in the politics of the speech - to me, it is a piece of the very finest oratory, superbly constructed and delivered.I appreciate it just as I would a fine song or piece of music...a simple approach, which , I hope,causes no offence or argument..
what a man,,,may he live for eternity in our history,,one day we as a people will draw on what he was ,,,what he stood for ,,and we will draw inspration,,,
Winston Churchill...one of the greatest men of all human history. I'm an American I would LOVE to have Sir Winston as our President today. A great man, a great leader, the right man at the right time. The Lord's Proidence surely showed here when Sir Winston ascended to be the PM of the UK at the "darkest hour"
W Churchill did make this speech in parliament in 1942. However, there was no audio or video recording of parliament at that time, and this is a voice of an actor.
Yes, you are correct of course which makes many of the postings here risible (eg., the post "..anyone who WATCHED this speech.."). However, I think he made recordings of his speeches in 1949 and later to supplement his income so I think it's actually his voice here.
What a man!!! i utterly respect him, really wish he were alive today. thank you Winston for leaing us into Victory. xxxxxxx always be remembered and respected x
I would like to say one thing. God bless Winston Churchill for being such a Hawk to the very end. We Americans are so grateful that he held firm and didn't a single Nazi march on the British Isles. That saved so many lives, British and American. As an American, I am proud to call you British our best Ally by far. The Battle of Britain was so close, and yet he lifted the spirit of the British people to fight on. You British are so badass it makes me wish I were British lol. Salute from the USA!
I had a Kindle for Xmas ( love to bits). I downloaded loads of free books. I'm a bit of a Churchill nut and a mate of mine recommended a book called What Churchill Would Do, I have avoided buying books so far (no point with so much free stuff) but it was dirt cheap so I thought I would give it a go. It was a really great book, loads of war stuff and some interesting and different business advice. Not the usual drivel you get . Worth checking out when you get a chance.
@AndyInHD Well said, Andy, and Winston Churchill shall live forever as so the other Ministers, Chamberlain, Thatcher, God save them, and God save the Queen!
As an old 'un I pray for a leader, particularly now, that can inspire and pull this country together so that pride extends beyond a very expensive football shirt!
"we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be " "if necessary alone" Great man and speech The 382,700 men who gave there life's for Britain are forgotten to often.
britains greatest prime minister ever.. a true gem of a statesman... problably the greatest Briton who ever lived.. he got us through the war by holding his nerve and making the tough calls
What a great speech! Makes me proud to be British. Even when the rest of Europe fell to the tyranny of Nazi Germany and things looked bleak, Britain, this damp little island, stood up and said "No" and vowed to fight against the Nazis, right to the dying end, and that is exactly what we did! Come on Great Britain! We'll defend our shores any day, no matter what it takes we will defend our island home from the tyranny that is evil!
June/July 1940... the British fight Hiter alone. The remnants of the British Army reorganize and dig in as the Royal Navy gathers heavy ships from around the world-as they prepare to repel a direct invasion. The Royal Air Force is about to meet the Nazi's in the skies above southern England. And this speech, in this dire hour, is heard by millions of Americans... stirring a deep and emotional reaction... that will forge a critical alliance. Hats off to Mr. Churchill.
wow - these responses are amazing - almost as good as the speech ! Gt britain isn't called great for nothing you know . yes we had an empire but don't forget we did need usa in the end as were broke x kisseswx peace and harmony NO to war x
If anyone here doesn't like Churchill why watch a video of him? If it is not for the simple reason that they have nothing better to do than to cause trouble? Churchill is the best man of all time. Rule Britannia!
My great aunt was crowned queen of the state of New York (long story) but she had 3.6 million votes in her favor. After this she got a congratz telegram from Winsten Churchil.
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, in nothing, great or poor, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
i belive this and many more brave man saved Europe and the whole world from a dark destiny. they are my heroes, and vill forever live on in peoples mind
I respect a great man who was the only one in the world who could stand against Hitler. Without him and his great mind the UK could never have survived through the first year of WWII.
"Until in God's good time, The New World with all its power and might steps forth to the rescue, and Liberation of the Old." He delivered that line with such patience that he knew it would happen, and sounds saddened by the fact his friends and Allies haven't been much help. We should have entered the war sooner.
fantastic , this is a great orator. after listening to Obamas waffle today in London I had to come here to listen to some real beef. This guy had more pressure on him than Obama als.. perhaps that is why this is so much more full bodied.
I will pour my wealth into conservative leadership running for Congress and winning this year. In 2012 I will put everything I have to get Newt Gingrich elected. Don't just vote, send money to those who you support! Send it until it hurts!
"To uthli the menace of thyrany, the-rethetheleahe-government, every man of them,...will defend bleh the te the...in the AIR! We shall fight in the theh, theh le me he..." lol. Friggin Churchill.
Here it is a wise man, so much we can learn, and see some supid comments like "God bless england and usa" , like GOD can will favor these countries, i can not comprehend so much stupidity. GOD bless humanity, and let us learn from our mistakes.
a voice of freedom in the world like Mememolly, like Grace Helbig, like Phil Chao.... Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul - reminders of the joys of all humanity
@TheAussieNationalist: "Did you read the entire article about the Munich agreement? It says "When the question of the Polish and Hungarian minorities in Czechoslovakia has been settled, Germany and Italy for their part will give a guarantee to Czechoslovakia." When Hitler absorbed the Sudetenland into the Reich, made Czechia a German protectorate, and recognized the independent Slovak state, the "question of the ... minorities" had not been settled. Poland and Hungary also invaded Czchoslvkia
@Sumoto999 "The british were prepared to stand alone..." WW2 casualties: UK: 450,900 US: 418,500 USSR: 23,400,000 Well, at least you have contributed with some nice inspirational speeches.
We need another Churchill today.
next best thing is FARAGE!
jazzyjazzyjazzy Absolutely agree.
So
***** But his point was that Churchill never began any wars, he only ended them.
Not yet.
Winston, I deeply thank you. I really think without you our world should be now far worse. You have been the one, the sole one who defended the human values on which we all should seek.
yes, you may be right somehow. Nevertherless, for a crucial period he stood alone saved the world from the nazism, that is worse of his beliefs. Some others, not dinosaurs, choosen the ignominy.
***** Remember, too, his time was in the 19th Century, not so much the 20th. People learn to be what they are in their early years and he carried what he learned about life through from then.
I for one am thankful for the world we live in which almost entirely a creation of the British Empire and the British Industrial revolution. All you post modern anti colonial whiners can give up your cars, your fossil fuels, your grocery stores and your global economy. Only then will your behavior match your "morality." Thank you Britain, thank you Lord Churchill. What language do you speak?
PhillipedeJousseneau Just remember what you guys did to the brave Irish sous who fought against fascists.
you know very little
S. O'Donnell you are so ridiculously arrogant and ignorant. jesus christ that killed brain cells just reading it
***** Yet you gave no counter argument.
There's some utter tripe written above. Your allegedly superior production would have amounted to nothing without inventions like the steam engine. The amount the world takes for granted that came from one small island in the Atlantic. Think about that next time you see someone riding a bicycle to work...
Such an inspiration. Proud to be british.
same here
The great Bengal famine killed 4 million (and people consider Churchill a hero), Shame on Churchill and people like you
not in hindsight. No flexibility at the end.
Penguin Lives Matter Churchill was a Great War time PM however he wasn’t very good after the war. That doesn’t mean that his previous accomplishments should be forgotten. He achieved so much as PM during the war!
@@penguinlivesmatter215 It actually wasn't his fault. Bengal was on the frontline with Japan meaning that many crops were destroyed in the fighting. Grain was diverted due to the fact that it would take far longer for grain to come from Canada and the United States than it would from the grain he had already sent from Australia. He is in no way responsible for the famine and the idea that he is a complete fallacy.
On his gravestone:
"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter."
This man is a hero to Britain and the western freedom. And all this idiots trying to claim he's a racist are utter clowns. If it wasn't for this man and his show of courage and defiance to this nation under the act of war then we would be slaves to Germany. Could you really imagine Cameron doing what this man did? He hasn't even got the backbone to stand up to the EU nevermind an enemy! Believe me when I say this we are at war with extremists! And until we have someone to stand up and show defiance to it in our government we shall forever be under this act of war.
I agree, I couldn't see David Cameron emanating Churchill, but I could see Nigel Farage, ppl say he's rich and an ex banker but I believe he does care about Britain
You know what tho labour and Tory are no good either, so my opinion is give him a go see if he can take it to the establishment as he says, and if he turns out to be a whipping boy full of false hope like Obama then we've learnt our lesson and let's try the greens next time in 2019
Yeah! This man saved us!
I admire this great leader, my respects from South america.
Thanks Winston. Your words of old give me strength for today. I think we need to live beyond just empty hope, but need to buckle down make good solid decisions and move forward.
Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Im a proud America but I am certainly envious of you guys for having this briliant man as a leader. We could use a man like him over here right now. Hey England, thanks. Thanks for all you've done for us and with us. Much Love.
Bring back the British Sausage.
Bring back the Fish and Chips.
Bring on the Lager and Curry.
Say NO to the EU and the federalist prison state.
Lager? Surely a pint of bitter; preferably Theakston's Old Peculiar, Fuller's London Pride or Thwaite's Lancaster?!
Tillythedogsdad What about Hanbury Truman Mild ??
Or Scottish Tenents ?
Ade Larsen Hmmmm, maybe not Tenents...but if in Scotland then I can recommend anything from the Black Isle Brewery or from Mad Dog!! Never tried the Hanbury...I shall seek it out :o)
Tillythedogsdad You might have problem getting the Hanbury Truman ale's these days..... :-)
Smile and keep drinking :-)
Beer will save the world - I don't know how but it will - So do your part and buy a 6 pack today.
I googled Hanbury Truman on your recommendation...me and the wife are down in London 7th Nov. I was hoping to find a pint but it seems no-one has taken over the beers and the brewery has gone :o( Oh well, I'm still smiling:o) Any other recommendations for a proper London brew that isn't national or global? If you're ever in N Yorkshire contact me, we'll take you on a brewery heaven tour!!
I listen to this every few weeks. Gives me chills everytime.
A giant of his time, it was his finest hour!!!
Shame on that fat ass ugly churchill . The great Bengal famine killed 4 million (and people consider Churchill a hero)
the Nazis killed over 13 million.... so you sir can shut the fuck up, you troll
churchill killed so many innocent Indians. He was a terrorist.
you fail so much it makes me cringe,Next Churchill turned to famine relief.
Canada had offered aid, but in thanking Prime Minister MacKenzie King, Churchill noted a shipping problem: “Wheat from Canada would take at least two months to reach India whereas it could be carried from Australia in 3 to 4 weeks.
At Churchill’s urging, Australia promised 350,000 tons of wheat. Churchill feared a resultant loss of war shipments between Canada and Australia, but King assured him there would be no shortfall. Canada’s contribution, he said, would pay “dividends in humanitarian aspects….”.
The famine continued into 1944, causing Secretary of State for India Leopold Amery to request one million tons of grain. Churchill, who had been studying consumption statistics, now believed India was receiving more than she would need. He remained concerned about the shipping problem, “given the effect of its diversion alike on operations and on our imports of food into this country, which could be further reduced only at the cost of much suffering.''
The Cabinet cited other causes of the famine rarely mentioned in latter-day denunciations of Churchill: the shortages were “partly political in character, caused by Marwari supporters of Congress [Gandhi’s party] in an effort to embarrass the existing Muslim Government of Bengal.” Another cause, they added, was corrupt local officials: “The Government of India were unduly tender with speculators and hoarders.”
Amery and Wavell continued to press for wheat, and in the Cabinet of February 14th Churchill tried to accommodate them. While shipping difficulties were “very real,” Churchill said, he was “most anxious that we should do everything possible to ease the Viceroy’s position. No doubt the Viceroy felt that if this corner could be turned, the position next year would be better.” Churchill added that “refusal of India’s request was not due to our underrating India’s needs, but because we could not take operational risks by cutting down the shipping required for vital operations.''
The war pressed Britain on all sides; shipping was needed everywhere. Indeed, at the same time as India was demanding another million tons, Churchill was fending off other demands: “I have been much concerned at the apparently excessive quantities of grain demanded by Allied HQ for civilians in Italy, which impose a great strain on our shipping and finances,” he wrote War Secretary Sir James Grigg. “Will you let me have, at the earliest possible moment…estimates of the amount of food which is really needed….”
A month later Churchill was hoping India had turned the corner when his Minister of War Transport, Frederick Leathers, reported “statistically a surplus of food grains in India.” Still, Leathers emphasized “the need for imported wheat on psychological grounds.” What were they? Amery explained that “the peasant in 750,000 villages” might hold back “his small parcel of grain” if no outside aid was in sight. He said he could ship 200,000 tons, “provided that the twenty-five ships required were surplus to the Army’s needs.” But Amery wanted double that quantity.
Again trying to help, the Cabinet suggested that India had underestimated its rice crop. While agreeing to send the 200,000 tons, Churchill told Amery he could get another 150,000 tons from Ceylon in exchange for excess rice: “The net effect, counting 50,000 tons previously arranged [was] 400,000 tons of wheat.”
In April, it was Lord Wavell asking not for 400,000 but 724,000 tons! Now the problem was unseasonable weather and a deadly explosion in the Bombay Docks, which destroyed 50,000 tons of food grains.. Peasants were still holding back their crops, he said; rumors were circulating “that London had refused to ask America for help.” The exasperated Cabinet retorted: “If we now approached the United States and they were unable to help, it would at least dispel that allegation.”
One can sense Churchill’s frustration. Whatever they did, however they wriggled, they could not appease the continued demands from India-even after calculations showed that the shortage had been eased.
Churchill agreed to write President Roosevelt for help, and replace the 45,000 tons lost in the explosion. But he “could only provide further relief for the Indian situation at the cost of incurring grave difficulties in other directions.”
As good as his word, and despite preoccupation with the upcoming invasion of France, Churchill wrote FDR. No one, reading his words, can be in doubt about his sympathies:
Have a read before making dumb comments
your bullshit british propoganda is not going to work here.
The Bengal Famine: How the British engineered the worst genocide in human history for profit
The British had a ruthless economic agenda when it came to operating in India and that did not include empathy for native citizens. Under the British Raj, India suffered countless famines. But the worst hit was Bengal. The first of these was in 1770, followed by severe ones in 1783, 1866, 1873, 1892, 1897 and lastly 1943-44. Previously, when famines had hit the country, indigenous rulers were quick with useful responses to avert major disasters. After the advent of British rule, most of the famines were a consequence of monsoonal delays along with the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by the British for their own financial gain. Yet they did little to acknowledge the havoc these actions wrought. If anything, they were irritated at the inconveniences in taxation the famines brought about.
The first of these famines was in 1770 and was ghastly brutal. The first signs indicating the coming of such a huge famine manifested in 1769 and the famine itself went on till 1773. It killed approximately 10 million people, millions more than the Jews incarcerated during the Second World War. It wiped out one-third the population of Bengal. John Fiske, in his book “The Unseen World”, wrote that the famine of 1770 in Bengal was far deadlier than the Black Plague that terrorised Europe in the fourteenth century. Under the Mughal rule, peasants were required to pay a tribute of 10-15 percent of their cash harvest. This ensured a comfortable treasury for the rulers and a wide net of safety for the peasants in case the weather did not hold for future harvests. In 1765, the Treaty of Allahabad was signed and the East India Company took over the task of collecting the tributes from the then Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Overnight the tributes, the British insisted on calling them tributes and not taxes for reasons of suppressing rebellion, increased to 50 percent. The peasants were not even aware that the money had changed hands. They paid, still believing that it went to the Emperor.
Partial failure of crops was quite a regular occurrence in the Indian peasant’s life. That is why the surplus stock, which remained after paying the tributes, was so important to their livelihood. But with the increased taxation, this surplus deteriorated rapidly. When partial failure of crops came in 1768, this safety net was no longer in place. The rains of 1769 were dismal and herein the first signs of the terrible drought began to appear. The famine occurred mainly in the modern states of West Bengal and Bihar but also hit Orissa, Jharkhand and Bangladesh. Bengal was the worst hit. Among the worst affected areas were Birbum and Murshidabad in Bengal. Thousands migrated from the area in hopes of finding sustenance elsewhere, only to die of starvation later on. Those who stayed on perished nonetheless. Huge tracts of farmland were abandoned. Wilderness started to thrive here, resulting in deep and inhabitable jungle areas. Tirhut, Champaran and Bettiah in Bihar were similarly affected.
Prior to this, whenever the possibility of a famine had emerged, the Indian rulers would waive their taxes and see compensatory measures, such as irrigation, instituted to provide as much relief as possible to the stricken farmers. The colonial rulers continued to ignore any warnings that came their way regarding the famine, although starvation had set in from early 1770. Then the deaths started in 1771. That year, the Company raised the land tax to 60 percent in order to recompense themselves for the lost lives of so many peasants. Fewer peasants resulted in fewer crops, which in turn meant less revenue. Hence the ones who had not yet succumbed to the famine had to pay even greater taxes so as to ensure that the British treasury did not suffer any losses during this travesty.
After taking over from the Mughal rulers, the British had issued widespread orders for cash crops to be cultivated. These were intended to be exported. Thus, farmers who were used to growing paddy and vegetables were now being forced to cultivate indigo, poppy and other such items that yielded a high market value for them but could be of no relief to a population starved of food. There was no backup of edible crops in case of a famine. The natural causes that had contributed to the drought were commonplace. It was the single-minded motive for profit that wrought such devastating consequences. No relief measure was provided for those affected. Rather, as mentioned above, taxation was increased to make up for any shortfall in revenue. What is even more ironic is that the East India Company generated higher profits in 1771 than they did in 1768.
Although the starved populace of Bengal did not know it yet, this was just the first of umpteen famines, caused solely by the motive for profit, that were to scourge the country side. Although all these massacres were deadly in their own right, the deadliest one to occur after 1771 was in 1943, when three million people died and others resorted to eating grass and human flesh in order to survive.
Winston Churchill, the hallowed British War prime minister who saved Europe from a monster like Hitler was disturbingly callous about the roaring famine that was swallowing Bengal’s population. He casually diverted the supplies of medical aid and food that was being dispatched to the starving victims to the already well supplied soldiers of Europe. When entreated upon, he said, “Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits.” The Delhi Government sent a telegram to him painting a picture of the horrible devastation and the number of people who had died. His only response was, “Then why hasn’t Gandhi died yet?"
It is worthwhile to remember that the riches of the West were built on the graves of the East.
The most charismatic powerful man
The greatest brit.Brilliant
RESPECT FROM PORTUGAL!!!
This guy is just inspiration from every way of the word!
Every british should be PROUD of him.
Im not british, but I respect HIM a LOT.
A BIG EXAMPLE... LISSSTTEEENNN!!!
fabulously british.
I think this is a timeless speech, It says what all should say to oppressors and those that would enslave "We the People", to the tyrants and butchers. We will preserver and overcome.
never give in
Thank you so much for posting this. It has meant a great deal to me.
I want to dedicate this to the members of the gay community in light of the mass shooting in Orlando FL We must not retreat back into the closet we must stand united we must not give into our fears and anxieties we have come to far to take a step back NEVER GIVE IN !
+bassentence lol that really tho
Don't ever associate such a man to anything gay. He would despise you and everyone if he knew what went on in the world these days.
All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Sir Winston Churchill
he is totally pissed making this speach?
Churchill was a fantastic leader! He got us through the storm that is war and he did it well. I've gotta admit, he is an inspiration, despite what many haters say.
1:12 he is so drunk...
Speech impediment. But he was drinking cognac and whisky during strategic planning in the war rooms if I remember correctly.
Great Speaker. I admire him totally. He was a bipolar sufferer. He had, often, terrible depression that he called "The Black Dog". But he was pretty amazing, carrying on as long as he did.
great man and great words for a frightening time
too bad we don't have leaders like this now
fantastic speech, if only we had more inspirational leaders like that today.
Never never never give up no matter the cost or the seemingly overwhelming might of the enemy. Rest in peace Big man
Thanks for such a great quote.
Few speeches have had as much importance and power as this. It is a speech of freedom, honour, and willingness to sacrifice oneself for others. No-one should look at this and see it as an excuse to be racist, or big-headed. I see how many people who have made these comments are my fellow British, and if all you care about is spouting hate, then i am truly ashamed of you
Don't want to get embroiled in the politics of the speech - to me, it is a piece of the very finest oratory, superbly constructed and delivered.I appreciate it just as I would a fine song or piece of music...a simple approach, which , I hope,causes no offence or argument..
great speech!
we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be but we shall never surrender!
Never give up, never surrender.
No-one does a speech like Winston, pure inspiration.
what a man,,,may he live for eternity in our history,,one day we as a people will draw on what he was ,,,what he stood for ,,and we will draw inspration,,,
Winston Churchill...one of the greatest men of all human history. I'm an American I would LOVE to have Sir Winston as our President today. A great man, a great leader, the right man at the right time. The Lord's Proidence surely showed here when Sir Winston ascended to be the PM of the UK at the "darkest hour"
W Churchill did make this speech in parliament in 1942. However, there was no audio or video recording of parliament at that time, and this is a voice of an actor.
Yes, you are correct of course which makes many of the postings here risible (eg., the post "..anyone who WATCHED this speech..").
However, I think he made recordings of his speeches in 1949 and later to supplement his income so I think it's actually his voice here.
What a man!!! i utterly respect him, really wish he were alive today. thank you Winston for leaing us into Victory. xxxxxxx always be remembered and respected x
This great man held this country together when it mattered most. I remember his funeral when I was 11. Makes you bloody proud to be British.
Amazing man. He is exactly what the world needs right now.
This speech is so inspirational. It even made itself to Iron Maiden's Aces High
I love this speech.
NEVER GIVE IN! resilience and bravery, sends a shiver down my spine every time
I would like to say one thing. God bless Winston Churchill for being such a Hawk to the very end. We Americans are so grateful that he held firm and didn't a single Nazi march on the British Isles. That saved so many lives, British and American. As an American, I am proud to call you British our best Ally by far. The Battle of Britain was so close, and yet he lifted the spirit of the British people to fight on. You British are so badass it makes me wish I were British lol. Salute from the USA!
A very brave man, in a very harsh time. Loved it.
I had a Kindle for Xmas ( love to bits). I downloaded loads of free books. I'm a bit of a Churchill nut and a mate of mine recommended a book called What Churchill Would Do, I have avoided buying books so far (no point with so much free stuff) but it was dirt cheap so I thought I would give it a go. It was a really great book, loads of war stuff and some interesting and different business advice. Not the usual drivel you get . Worth checking out when you get a chance.
Perhaps our generation shall yield a great leader considering out of hardship comes the remarkable people of substance
That was chilling...and very inspiring.
@AndyInHD Well said, Andy, and Winston Churchill shall live forever as so the other Ministers, Chamberlain, Thatcher, God save them, and God save the Queen!
As an old 'un I pray for a leader, particularly now, that can inspire and pull this country together so that pride extends beyond a very expensive football shirt!
"youve got enemies? good. that means you actully stood up for something"- Winston Churchill
"my honnor is loyalty Mr. Churchill."
"we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be "
"if necessary alone"
Great man and speech
The 382,700 men who gave there life's for Britain are forgotten to often.
They really should make a Hollywood film about this man.. God id like to watch it.. RIP Winston.
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, NEVER!!!!"
Well said my friend. From a Brit in Japan. You do your country credit.
Half the time I cant tell what he's saying but the first time I heard this speech I cried
britains greatest prime minister ever.. a true gem of a statesman... problably the greatest Briton who ever lived.. he got us through the war by holding his nerve and making the tough calls
A great leader who rose against impossible odds and who never quit. Fact, over and out
@Davey180 I'm American and I'm proud to be of British descent. Cheers to the Fatherland!
@TheGreatHumungous Your so right we need a leader like him now to get us out of this awful mess we are in with our country.
Out of all the people in the world.......I respect Churchill the most
What a great speech! Makes me proud to be British. Even when the rest of Europe fell to the tyranny of Nazi Germany and things looked bleak, Britain, this damp little island, stood up and said "No" and vowed to fight against the Nazis, right to the dying end, and that is exactly what we did! Come on Great Britain! We'll defend our shores any day, no matter what it takes we will defend our island home from the tyranny that is evil!
June/July 1940... the British fight Hiter alone. The remnants of the British Army reorganize and dig in as the Royal Navy gathers heavy ships from around the world-as they prepare to repel a direct invasion. The Royal Air Force is about to meet the Nazi's in the skies above southern England. And this speech, in this dire hour, is heard by millions of Americans... stirring a deep and emotional reaction... that will forge a critical alliance. Hats off to Mr. Churchill.
When he said "We shall never surrender!", Aces High started playing in my head.
R.I.P. Churchill
wow - these responses are amazing - almost as good as the speech !
Gt britain isn't called great for nothing you know .
yes we had an empire but don't forget we did need usa in the end as were broke x kisseswx peace and harmony NO to war x
If anyone here doesn't like Churchill why watch a video of him?
If it is not for the simple reason that they have nothing better to do than to cause trouble?
Churchill is the best man of all time.
Rule Britannia!
Never give up, never surrender!
Thanks to Iron Maiden.. I've found this speech. This is the history!
If England needs a hand well here it is!
If England needs a hand well here it is.
Great words by a true statesmen.
FORWARD! FORWARD MY BROTHERS TO BATTLE ONCE MORE!
My great aunt was crowned queen of the state of New York (long story) but she had 3.6 million votes in her favor. After this she got a congratz telegram from Winsten Churchil.
God,please send back this great man to save our dying country.No surrender!
Hair tingling, chest puffing, heart stopping, eye watering stuff... no one in our life times will have that affect on us.
What a Legend.... We need another leader like this
1000th like
I feel spreshal.
Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never 🇬🇧
thanks
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, in nothing, great or poor, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
If they came easily we would take them for granted. Best we save them for when truly needed.
The duties to all men is to fight tyranny, no matter how big or how small it is.
i belive this and many more brave man saved Europe and the whole world from a dark destiny. they are my heroes, and vill forever live on in peoples mind
We held the line. Like we always do.
I respect a great man who was the only one in the world who could stand against Hitler. Without him and his great mind the UK could never have survived through the first year of WWII.
Churchill speech inspired the whole world
He has a lisp, but it's kind of like poetry the way it rolls along with inflections.
"Until in God's good time, The New World with all its power and might steps forth to the rescue, and Liberation of the Old."
He delivered that line with such patience that he knew it would happen, and sounds saddened by the fact his friends and Allies haven't been much help. We should have entered the war sooner.
Tommy Tommy, Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy Robinson!
NEVER GIVE IN!!!
fantastic , this is a great orator. after listening to Obamas waffle today in London I had to come here to listen to some real beef. This guy had more pressure on him than Obama als.. perhaps that is why this is so much more full bodied.
I will pour my wealth into conservative leadership running for Congress and winning this year.
In 2012 I will put everything I have to get Newt Gingrich elected.
Don't just vote, send money to those who you support! Send it until it hurts!
"To uthli the menace of thyrany, the-rethetheleahe-government, every man of them,...will defend bleh the te the...in the AIR! We shall fight in the theh, theh le me he..." lol.
Friggin Churchill.
greatest man who ever lived
Here it is a wise man, so much we can learn, and see some supid comments like "God bless england and usa" , like GOD can will favor these countries, i can not comprehend so much stupidity. GOD bless humanity, and let us learn from our mistakes.
a voice of freedom in the world like Mememolly, like Grace Helbig, like Phil Chao....
Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul - reminders of the joys of all humanity
Amazing
Churchill was the greatest of the 20th century and in my opinion, the greatest leader in human history.
@TheAussieNationalist: "Did you read the entire article about the Munich agreement? It says "When the question of the Polish and Hungarian minorities in Czechoslovakia has been settled, Germany and Italy for their part will give a guarantee to Czechoslovakia."
When Hitler absorbed the Sudetenland into the Reich, made Czechia a German protectorate, and recognized the independent Slovak state, the "question of the ... minorities" had not been settled.
Poland and Hungary also invaded Czchoslvkia
Sir Winston was the greatest Briton!
@Sumoto999
"The british were prepared to stand alone..."
WW2 casualties:
UK: 450,900
US: 418,500
USSR: 23,400,000
Well, at least you have contributed with some nice inspirational speeches.