British Empire and the World War II - Term Paper Example

British Empire And The World War II Through ‘Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World’ the author Patrick Buchanan is making a critique about the life of Winston Churchill, whom Americans consider as the man of the twentieth century. Churchill made a deep influence on the world history as a politician, soldier and writer. He is popular for leading his nation as a prime minister during the crucial Battle of Britain. Time Magazine crowned him as the man of the century. Patrick Buchanan’s work came as a shock for it destroys the Churchill myth. Buchanan unmasks several other facts and became successful in convincing his readers. The book presents well balanced and well-documented arguments that support the thesis. Even though the author is not a historian, he has gathered works of several famous historians and used them for supporting his thesis. He also considered several counterarguments against his position. Even though the book contains gives no unreported facts, it includes lots of evidences that are well presented. The book is a convincing persuasive case. The author has made a good critique of the life of Winston Churchill. The books reveal the truth regarding the world wars and the incidents that triggered them. The work of Buchanan appears as an updated version of A.J.P Taylor. However it contains several shocking facts that change our beliefs about Winston Churchill. Churchill had great reputation in the United States, England and Israel. However, he had a bad reputation in other nations for he was considered as a treacherous imperialist. He was also seen as a man of poor insight. He was not believed to be a wise diplomat or military strategist. Churchill was ready to fight to anybody, Americans, Australians, or Indians to bring benefits to the British Empire. His cruelty in the war like the brutality of Lord Kitchener who made Boer women and children suffer in concentration camps. Churchill never sat idle. Right from 1890s he strove much to make advancements to various places where he can fight to make benefits. He would locate places where he can increase his popularity and fulfill his ambitions. He proceeded with his adventures, making his vested interest triumph. Simultaneously he wrote books and articles so that he can convince people of his actions. Churchill was a proficient writer. His works were of great demand. He won nothing less than Nobel Literature. Churchill’s great rhetoric and wit made him more popular. In Churchill, Hitler, and “The Unnecessary War,” the author is attempting to reveal the real face of Churchill. He is exposing the vanity behind worshipping Churchill. He also breaks several myths the world believed. Even though several good historians like Ralph Raico have successfully exposed the black face of Churchill, the work of Buchanan is very different one. Buchanan considers the two world wars as two parts of the long thirty years war. According to him, both phases of wars were completely unnecessary. It was Great Britain who drags the world to wars. They were transforming European wars to world wars. Regarding World War I, says that “Had Britain not declared war on Germany in 1914, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and India would not have followed the Mother Country in. Nor would Britain’s ally Japan. Nor would Italy, which London lured in with secret bribes of territory from the Habsburg and Ottoman empires. Nor would America have gone to war had Britain stayed out. Germany would have been victorious, perhaps in months. There would have been no Lenin, no Stalin, no Versailles, no Hitler, no Holocaust (Buchanan, 2008).” About World War II Buchanan is of the opinion that “Had Britain not given a war guarantee to Poland in March 1939, then declared war on September 3, bringing in South Africa, Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and the United States, a German-Polish war might never have become a six-year war in which fifty million would perish (Buchanan, 2008).” Buchanan reveals the role of Britain in dragging other countries to wars. He believes that both World Wars could be avoided. The author of Churchill, Hitler, and “The Unnecessary War” starts his narrative right from the end of the nineteenth century and stops till the closing of the Second World War. Churchill is the most important person in these affairs. He is the one who is responsible for the participation of Britain in the 1939 German-Polish war and the 1914 European war. The author gives proofs for the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm II did not look for war with Great Britain. Similarly, thirty years later Hitler never wanted to have war with Britain for her admired Britain and its empire. Hitler never desired the ruin of British Empire. He rather dreamt an alliance with them. Churchill, Hitler, and “The Unnecessary War” shed light on various facts about the First and Second World War that were hidden. The book locates the real culprit who made the wars extend to the whole world. The book also describes what triggered people like Churchill to involve in matters that initiated wars. Conquering the whole world was none of the motives of the Germans. They never had the means to do so. Buchanan helps readers go through the truth. He disproves the common myths regarding the two World Wars. According to Buchanan, if prudence existed in 1914, all the calamities of the twentieth century could be avoided. The truth is that Britain was in the phase of decline and she was afraid of Germany’s increase in power and dominance. British government was of the believed that by launching war on behalf of Russia and France, the plans of Germany can be smashed. Britain’s political leadership could not act wisely. The war demolished the British Empire and contributed to her ultimate fall. Western Civilization never recovered from the aftereffects of the war. The war took the lives of more than 10 million people. It eliminated three celebrated European dynasties, Hapsburg, Ramanov and Hohenzollern. The war left behind a legacy of hatred, bitterness and silent conflicts. The social and economic turmoil brought by the war made the political field of Europe a favorable ground for radicalism. Buchanan’s account helps us understand this. ‘Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World’ is a deep work that is rich with information that is original and unbiased. The book is an eye-opener filled with facts and truths. The fascinating details provided by the author makes the work a valuable one. Buchanan’s account is a major work of historical revisionism. The iconoclasm presented in the book is notable and this helps readers understand that history is not as it appears to be. History is different in the background. What people generally believe is far from truth. The facts provided by Buchanan in his account are different from the general beliefs concerning the topic. The book questions the most cherished beliefs regarding Churchill, the man of the twentieth century. The book reveals the truths behind the thirty years war 1914-1945. The book is recommended not only to researchers, historians and history teachers and students, but also to common men who are interested in knowing the truths behind the thirty years war. The book would demolish the image of Churchill whose actions have brought nothing but lose to the world. Even though there are several accounts about the topic, Buchanan’s account is very much convincing in the light of facts. Buchanan makes good support of his statements with facts. Works Cited Patrick J. Buchanan. Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World, New York: Crown Publishers, 2008. Read More