Bbc winston churchill biography for kids
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Winston Churchill: How a flawed man became a great leader
On Thursday, the Magazine looked at the greatest controversies of Winston Churchill's career. Here, the BBC's world affairs editor examines how an all-too-human politician became a great wartime prime minister.
In the BBC broadcast a series called Greatest Britons. After each programme in which particular figures were proposed and examined - they were mostly but not exclusively the usual suspects, such as Darwin, Shakespeare and Elizabeth I - viewers were invited to vote.
In the end, there was no doubt about their verdict - Sir Winston Churchill was the greatest Briton.
The case for him is a powerful one, of course. He was first a government minister in , and occupied most of the top jobs in politics during half a century. He finally retired in , having served as prime minister for a total of nine years.
But it was his extraordinary leadership in World War Two that marked him out. Bold, brave and tireless i
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In Britain was in danger fighting Germany, a powerful enemy, in World War Two. And Britain seemed to be losing. But a leader came along to help the British fight back and win and he did it with the power of words!
His name was Winston Churchill.
Churchill came from a wealthy family and was a soldier, a reporter and then, a Member of Parliament, where he helped man laws.
Churchill was clever and determined but some people thought he was difficult and only interested in himself.
In World War Two started. When the Prime Minister gave up his job, Churchill replaced him.
The war started badly for Britain. The army lost battles against the Germans. Cities were damaged bygd German planes dropping bombs and many died. People looked to the Prime Minister to help them.
Churchill worked hard to keep people's spirits up. He made speeches played on the radio. He visited towns which had been damaged bygd bombs. He met soldiers, sailors and pilots who were fighting in the war. His speech
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Great Lives: Winston Churchill
Radio 4 Extra marks years since the birth of statesman, military officer and writer Sir Winston Churchill, born 30/11/
Expert contribution comes from Professor David Reynolds, Emeritus Professor of International History at Cambridge University. He has also written extensively on Churchill, including the book "In Command of History" about Churchill's memoirs of the Second World War.
Considered by many a busted flush in the s, Churchill is now remembered as our greatest wartime leader - his speech before the Battle of Britain still sends a shiver down the spine. But his great qualities and personal flaws remained inextricably linked. David Reynolds has uncovered a stark revelation about Churchill's real state of mind at the time he made that speech, while Digby Jones argues that the ability to instil confidence in people even when there is little rational hope of victory is one of the signs of a great leader. He believes that no one made his mark o