Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

One of the main themes in this speech is the view of war as a necessary evil. Churchill had been advocating that military intervention be used to curb German expansionism in Europe since the mid-1930s. With war finally declared against the Axis Powers in 1939, and the Norway Debate confirming that The House of Commons was in favor of the full and active mobilization of British troops into Europe, Churchill ascended to the position of prime minister determined that Britain would fight WWII wholeheartedly until victory was achieved.

Throughout the entirety of the “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” speech, Churchill does not once mention the possibility of attempting to negotiate with Germany. This approach is in stark contrast to the diplomatic tactics favored by his predecessor and rejects the reluctance of the government to commit to all-out war during the Phony War period. It does, however, fit with Churchill’s personal hardline stance against Nazi Germany and with the House’s demonstrated militarism during the Norway Debate. With peaceful options dismissed through the very fact of their absence, Churchill instead presents only two alternatives: “victory” or defeat so absolute it amounts to “no survival” (Paragraph 6).