September 14, 2021

The Battle of Britain began in July of 1940 shortly after Churchill became Prime Minister

Nearly a month before the Battle of Britain began, Winston Churchill gave one of his most famous speeches. In the House of Commons on 18 June 1940 Churchill gave his famous ‘Finest Hour’ speech.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’

Winston Churchill, 18 June 1940

Listen to a clip and read the full text of the speech here. 

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On the 20th of August 1940, as the battle raged on, Winston Churchill give another of his famous rousing speeches. Paying tribute to the fortitude of the Royal Air Force, he coined one of his most famous lines, ”Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

Winston Churchill, 20 August 1940

Listen to a clip and read the entire Churchill speech here.

Learn more with these Battle of Britain resources:

• BBC History
• The History Channel
• Royal Air Force
• Royal Canadian Air Force