We Shall Fight on the Beaches

Winston Churchill made one of his most famous speeches as the British Prime Minister to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940. Following notable battles and tremendous loss in this dark period of World War II, Churchill relays information and encouragement to the citizens of the United Kingdom in this public address, “We Shall Fight on the Beaches.” At the time of the speech, Britain was facing the threat of invasion by Nazi Germany following the evacuation of British and Allied forces from Dunkirk, France (See: Background). In addition to informing Parliament of these developments, the Prime Minister’s speech had several other purposes. By demonstrating Britain’s determination to continue the fight against Nazi Germany, Churchill aimed to inspire confidence and solidarity among Allied nations, particularly France. Churchill also hoped to encourage the United States to become an ally against Germany in World War II. Finally, Churchill wanted to boost the morale of the British people while also warning them that a German invasion may be imminent.

This guide refers to the freely available online version of the speech published by the International Churchill Society here. The guide uses paragraph numbers for citations.

Churchill opens his speech with the news that French defenses have been broken near the shore bordering the English Channel. He describes German forces sweeping through France “like a sharp scythe” (Paragraph 2). British and French troops had the chance to retreat to the south. However, the opportunity was not taken, and the armies fought valiantly, hoping to close the gap in their defenses at Sudan and on the Meuse River. Churchill asserts that the act of retreating would have led to the destruction of the Belgian army. Therefore, the new French Generalissimo—commander of multiple military branches—chose to “keep on holding the right hand” of Belgium while pursuing a forward advance by the French (Paragraph 1).

Churchill reveals that the German forces were overwhelming. They surrounded French and British troops with more than 3,000 armored vehicles, preventing communication between the British and French armies and cutting off supplies of food and ammunition. The German armored divisions were followed by the “dull brute mass” of the German Army and ordinary German citizens (Paragraph 2). British and French forces battled to defend the city of Boulogne but were ordered to withdraw by Britain. Allied troops then engaged in a four-day battle to defend the French city of Calais after a British Brigadier “spurned” the chance to surrender. Germany won the battle, and only 30 survivors were rescued by the Navy. However, Churchill emphasizes that the Allied troops’ “sacrifice […] was not in vain” as the battle diverted German forces, allowing the Allies to keep the port of Dunkirk open (Paragraph 3). Nevertheless, British, French, and Belgian troops were surrounded by German troops on the beaches of Dunkirk and vulnerable to air attacks. 

Churchill backtracks to a week prior when he asked the House to set up this time for him to make a statement. He admits that, at the time, he was preparing to announce the “worst military disaster in [Britain’s] long history” (Paragraph 5). Churchill adds that, since then, the country has suffered a further “blow” due to the actions of the King of Belgium. Churchill reminds his audience that when the war began, Belgium remained neutral, refusing to join the Allies. Nevertheless, when Germany unexpectedly invaded Belgium, Allied forces responded to the Belgian King’s plea for aide. The British and French armies united with half a million Belgian forces, but without warning, the Belgian King sent a plenipotentiary (diplomat) to German Command and surrendered. His unanticipated actions left Allied troops exposed and with little hope of withdrawing to the coast. Meanwhile, German forces concentrated their forces on Dunkirk, using a campaign of air bombings, cannons, and magnetic mines to attack Allied forces waiting for evacuation to Britain.

The Royal Navy, helped by merchant seamen, sent 870 ships and boats to rescue British and Allied troops from Dunkirk. Churchill describes how these vessels made numerous dangerous voyages across the Channel, facing “artillery fire,” “mines and torpedoes,” and severe weather conditions (Paragraph 9). At the same time, the Royal Air Force sent pilots to attack German bombers and troops at Dunkirk. Consequently, a “miracle of deliverance” occurred (Paragraph 10). The Royal Air Force “inflicted losses […] of at least four to one” on their German counterparts, and more than 335,000 men were rescued by the Royal Navy (Paragraph 10). 

Churchill takes this opportunity to praise the strength of the British Air Forces. The main aim of the German plane fighters was to prevent evacuation by the Allies, and in this objective, they were defeated. Even when German fighter planes outnumbered those of the British by four-to-one, the British Air Forces were victorious. Churchill asserts that the pilots’ achievements gives him confidence that the Royal Air Force could ably defend Britain in the event of an invasion. He suggests that the role of British airmen in defending “the cause of civilization” surpasses those of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table or the Crusaders (Paragraph 12). Quoting “Morte d’Arthur” by Alfred Lord-Tennyson, he declares that all the men who are prepared to give their lives for their country deserve Britain’s gratitude.

Churchill goes on to address the losses of the Army, revealing that, in the course of the war, more than 30,000 British men have been killed or are missing. The Prime Minister offers his sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones, including Sir Andrew Duncan (a member of the House of Commons), whose son was recently killed. The Prime Minister expresses hope that some of the men missing in action will eventually return. He also points out that the British lives lost so far in the war equate to approximately one-third of the deaths during the first days of the Battle of the Somme in World War I.

Churchill describes extensive losses to the British Army’s equipment: 1,000 guns and most armored transport was lost or taken by the enemy. The Prime Minister states that it will take effort from everyone to overcome this loss and strengthen Britain’s military power. He asserts that if the nation works together, this setback can be overcome. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister acknowledges that the British and Allied losses so far equate to “a colossal military disaster” (Paragraph 16). He also states that intelligence has revealed that Hitler intends to invade Britain. Alluding to Napoleon, Churchill reminds the audience that unsuccessful plans have been made to invade Britain before.

Churchill addresses the defense of Britain in the final paragraphs of his speech. He states that the British government will “stamp out” the Fifth Column (Nazi sympathizers who live in Britain and might aid a German invasion). Churchill acknowledges Hitler’s cunning and “ingenuity of aggression” but claims that Britain is prepared to face any attack that may come its way (Paragraph 19). In the most famous part of his speech, Churchill reminds listeners that many parts of Europe have already been occupied by “the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule” (Paragraph 20). However, he vows that Britain will not experience the same fate. Churchill asserts that British and French forces will work together to defend their countries from “the menace of tyranny” (Paragraph 20). He pledges that they will continue to fight in France and, in the event of an attempted German invasion, will fight in every possible location of Britain, from “the beaches” to “the streets” to “the hills.” British forces will “never surrender” to Hitler’s power. The Prime Minister closes with his belief that if Britain is invaded, the forces of the British Empire and the New World will rescue and liberate the country.