January 9, 2013

‘Winston Churchill’s Efforts to Unify Britain from 1940-1941’
by Sarah Howells • November 2012

Review a map of Europe to understand the Nazi advances on May 10, 1940.
Identify the Allied Powers and Axis Powers .

1. On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. On September 3, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Nazi Germany. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain asked Churchill to assume what office? (You may need to research)
a. Prime Minister
b. Member of Parliament
c. First Lord of the Admiralty
d. President of the British Empire

2. What event did not occur on May 10, 1940?
a. Churchill became Prime Minister of Great Britain.
b. Hitler invaded the Low Countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherland
c. German bombs began to fall on London
d. Hitler invaded France

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3. The author describes Churchill as having a “stubborn personality.” Which best describes what she means?
a. Churchill was likely to throw a temper tantrum if the German navy sunk a British ship.
b. He was not willing to let Hitler disrupt the normal way of life in England.
c. He refused to take any advice from his generals.
d. Over and over he read the book Irrepressible Churchill.

4. The author uses which adjectives to describe Churchill in 1940-1941:
a. War-like, gloating, sharp and nasty
b. Optimistic, confident, passionate and sympathetic
c. Paternal, realistic, serious and humble
d. b and c

5. Which was not a reason why Churchill encouraged King George to create and award the George Medal and the George Cross?
a. To reward civilian heroism
b. To honor members of the military who lost their lives fighting the Nazis in Europe
c. To reward acts of bravery during the Blitz
d. to create an atmosphere of patriotism on the home front

6. What part did the BBC play in Britain 1940-1941?
a. They broadcast some of Churchill’s speeches.
b. Each Sunday they played the seven national anthems of the Allies.
c. They played the German nation anthem each day to remind citizens of the war
d. a and b

7. Why did Churchill mandate that each Sunday the BBC play the seven national anthems of the Allies?
a. To underscore that Britain was fighting to save ‘Western civilization,’ not just herself.
b. He enjoyed listening to French music on the wireless.
c. To communicate Britain’s duty to protect her Allies
d. a and c

8. Ms. Howells refers to Churchill as “one of the most iconic politicians of the 20th century.” What examples does she use to illustrate her assertion?
a. Churchill’s roaming about England, cigar in hand
b. His continual use of the V-sign
c. He was the subject of many cartoons in the world press
d. His zippered siren suit
e. All of the above

9. Which best describes the British people in 1940-1941?
a. Resilient
b. Of high morale
c. Resolute
d. Confident in Churchill’s ability as a war leader
e. All of the above

10. Which of Churchill’s speeches does the author mention?
a. “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”
b. “Wars Are Not Won by Evacuations”
c. “Their Finest Hour”
d. “War of the Unknown Warriors”
e. All of the above
Note: During the war, there were no recording devices in the House of Commons. Churchill re-delivered some of the speeches he gave there, at a later time.

11. When Churchill became Prime Minister on May 10, 1945, he formed a “coalition government,” which was one that
a. had members of all the major political parties in leadership positions
b. worked as a team with British radicals
c. had Communists and Fascists in less important positions
d. 77% of the British public disliked

12. Churchill’s willingness to allow the People’s Convention of 1941 to take place without police intervention may have showed that
a. he wanted to negotiate with the German people, but not their leaders
b. little was to be gained in a democracy by silencing the protests of a minority
c. he believed most British people supported the war effort and believed they would win
d. b and c

13. Why does Ms. Howells think Churchill did not negotiate with Hitler to end the Blitz?
a. He feared the Nazis would take over the entire continent of Europe.
b. The British people believed the Allies would be victorious and wished to fight on.
c. Churchill had convinced the British that it was their duty to save the Western world from the evils of fascism.
d. All of the above

14. Based on information in the research paper, complete each of the following sentences in a grammatically and factually correct manner:

a. Although Churchill

b. Unless Churchill

c. If Churchill

15. If you were meeting Churchill for dinner tomorrow evening, what would you ask him?