The Second World War (book)

Churchill's The Second World War first edition in 6 volumes

Churchill's The Second World War 1960s paperback edition in 12 volumes

The Second World War is a history, originally published in six volumes, of the period from the end of the First World War to July 1945, written by Winston Churchill. It was largely responsible for his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. Churchill labeled the "moral of the work" as follows: "In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill"

Writing

When Churchill assumed office in 1940, he fully intended to write a history of the war then beginning. He said several times: "I will leave judgements on this matter to history – but I will be one of the historians." To circumvent the rules against the use of official documents, he took the precaution throughout the war of having a weekly summary of correspondence, minutes, memoranda and other documents printed in galleys and headed "Prime Minister's personal minutes". These were then stored at his home for future use. As well, Churchill actually wrote or dictated a number of letters and memoranda with the specific intention of placing his views on the record for later use as a historian.

These arrangements became a source of controversy when The Second World War began appearing in 1948. Churchill was not an academic historian, he was a politician, and was in fact Leader of the Opposition, still intending to return to office, so his access to Cabinet, military and diplomatic records, which was denied to other historians, was questioned.

Winston Churchill during the Second World War

What was unknown at the time was the fact that Churchill had done a deal with Clement Attlee's Labour government which came to office in 1945. Recognising Churchill's enormous prestige, Attlee agreed to allow him – or rather his research assistants – free access to all documents, provided that no official secrets were revealed, the documents were not used for party political purposes and the typescript was vetted by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Norman Brook. Brook took a close interest in the books and rewrote some sections himself to ensure that nothing was said which might harm British interests or embarrass the government.

Churchill's privileged access to documents and his unrivalled personal knowledge gave him an advantage over all other historians of the Second World War for many years. The books had enormous sales in both Britain and the United States and made Churchill a rich man for the first time^{[citation needed]}.

While Churchill's name appears on the book's cover as the author, he did not write the book alone: it was "put together by young researchers".

It was not until after Churchill's death and the opening of the archives that some of the deficiencies of his work became apparent. Some of these were inherent in the difficult position Churchill occupied as a former Prime Minister and a serving politician. He could not reveal military secrets, such as the work of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park, or the planning of the atomic bomb.^{[citation needed]}

As stated in the author's introduction, the book is focussed on the British war effort. Other theatres of war are described largely as a background. The descriptions of the fighting on the Eastern Front, and, to a lesser extent, of the Pacific War, are sketchy. Although he is usually fair, some personal vendettas are aired – for example, against Sir Stafford Cripps, at one time considered by some the "only possible alternative wartime Prime Minister" to Churchill.

Legacy

The Second World War can still be read with great profit by students of the period, provided it is seen mainly as a memoir by a leading participant rather than as an authoritative history by a professional and detached historian. The Second World War, particularly the period between 1940 and 1942 when Britain was fighting with only the support of the Empire and a few Allies, was after all the climax of Churchill's career and his personal account of the inside story of those days is unique and invaluable.

As historian John Keegan notes in his 1985 introduction to the series, some deficiencies in the Churchill accounts are due to the lack of still secret Ultra intelligence. Keegan also notes the uniqueness of Churchill's account, since none of the other major leaders — Roosevelt, Stalin, Hitler — wrote a first-hand account of the war. Churchill's books were put together collaboratively, as he actively solicited others involved in the war for their papers and remembrances.

Editions

First edition (hardcover) in six volumes           

1. The Gathering Storm (1948)
2. Their Finest Hour (1949)
3. The Grand Alliance (1950)
4. The Hinge of Fate (1950)
5. Closing the Ring (1951)
6. Triumph and Tragedy (1953)

Full paperback edition in twelve volumes           

1. The Gathering Storm
2. The Twilight War
3. The Fall of France
4. The Commonwealth Alone
5. Germany Drives East
6. War Comes to America
7. The Onslaught of Japan
8. Victory in Africa
9. The Invasion of Italy
10. Assault from the Air
11. The Tide of Victory
12. Triumph and Tragedy

Condensed edition in four volumes

1. Milestones to Disaster
2. Alone
3. The Grand Alliance
4. Triumph and Tragedy

The Second World War is also available in a single-volume abridgement.

See also

• The official History of the Second World War

References

Notes