The Failure of Churchill among Other Leaders - Essay Example

5th November Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War One of the most important questions, which have been raised by people across the world, is on whether the First and Second World Wars were inevitable or not. The other aspect that has been a part of focus is on the destruction that was suffered by the humankind over the thirty years paroxysm of destruction and slaughter beyond the control of leaders and other stakeholders beyond their control (Buchanan 12). It is on this regard that this paper critically evaluates issues addressed by the book titled “Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War: How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World”, written by Patrick J Buchanan Background of the Book Citing major historians like Andreas Hillgruber, Niall Ferguson, Correlli Barnett, George Kennan among others, Buchanan indicates that it was one of the greatest mistakes done by Britain in fighting Germany during the First and Second World War. In his opinion, Buchanan argues the consequences of involvement of Britain in both these wars, was not only disastrous to the country, but to the rest of Europe as well as the globe. One of the express purposes of Buchanan is undermining what he explain as the Churchill cult, amongst the elites from America, thus he focuses especially on roles played by Churchill when he involved Britain in these wars against Germany in both of First and Second World War. In the book, the author accuses Churchill, who was the First Lord of Admiralty, for a great lust in the First World War. Buchanan describes Germany during Second Reich as the satiated power, searching for prosperity and peace that was threatened by the revanchist France. In the book, it can be clearly indicated that Britain did not had any notable disagreement with Germany prior to First World War, which took place in 1914. However, the large build up of the navy from Germany headed by Alfred von Tirpitz had significantly been threatened by Britain, an aspect that forced Britain to bring a bulk of the country’s navy as making alliances with France and Russia. It is due to this disastrous policy from Germany, which tied England to the rest of Europe and created favourable condition leading to the involvement of Britain in the World war. On the other hand, the author asserts that one of the largest responsibilities for failure for relationships in the Anglo-Germany had been the “Germanphobia” as well as the zeal for Entente of Sir Edward Grey, who was the British Foreign Secretary at that time. In evaluating the responsibilities for these course events, the author of the book, clearly asserts that Britain had the ability to end the naval race involving Anglo-Germany (Buchanan 41). This could have been achieved by remaining neutral in events of war between France and Germany. It is on this regard that Buchanan claims the possibilities that Kaiser Wilhem was eager to prevent this war prior to 1914 and accepted the claim that it was due to mobilization of Russians in 1914, which resulted to war against Germany. Buchanan candidly accuses Grey and Churchill for committing Britain illegally to the 1914 war, through promising the fact Britain could had defended France, despite lacking knowledge of their parliament and cabinet. In this provocative and monumental history, Buchanan indicates that were it not for blunders of Winston Churchill among other notable statesmen, the great horrors of the First and Second world War as well as its holocaust could have highly been avoided. He further notes that the collapse of British Empire could not have been experienced were it not due to these wars. The wars represented approximately half a century of fatal oppressions of millions of people under iron boots under the communist tyranny. It can be noted that the wars could have been avoided thus preserving the central role of Europe in global affairs for many years to come (Buchanan 57). It is arguable that the Second World War could have been prevented if the Treaty of Versailles was not harsh to the Germans. Buchanan views these Versailles treaties as being monstrous and unfair towards German. Due to the humiliation at the Versailles treaties, the author indicates that people from Germany increased their allegiance to the country, thus willing to place their confidence towards the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Buchanan pursue the distinctions that had been made by Andreas Hillgruber involving foreign policy that aimed at restoring Germany to the position it had prior to 1918. He also hoped that some of territorial expansionism in the Eastern Europe as well as Nazi foreign policies, whose first achievement towards the war was the Weimar-era foreign policies. In the book, Buchanan argues that the ambitions of Hitler had greatly been confined to the Eastern part of Europe and that Hitler wanted to have anti-soviet alliances with Britain. The British leaders, especially those of 1930s had greatly been influenced by “Germanphobia”, thus making them to suspect the fact that Germany was to conquer the whole world. By citing Lukacs John, the author maintains that the Operation Barbarossa was not being part of any for of long range master plan as far as Hitler was concerned (Buchanan 23). However, Operation Barbarossa was part of Hitler attempt to force Britain in making peace through the elimination of last hopes of victory possessed by Britain, thus taking the Soviet Union to the war on allied sides. It can also be noted that this holocaust developed to a great scale due to Hitler’s invasion of Poland and Russia. This was clear indicator that he had a recommendable control of most Jews across Europe. Buchanan indicates the fact that were it not for Churchill’s acceptance of peace offer from Hitler in the 1940, the magnitude of the holocaust that took place in Europe could have immensely been prevented. Generally, Buchanan expresses the views that just as the Chamberlains guarantee of the Poland in 1939 resulted to unnecessary war during 1939, the current guarantees offered to nations in Eastern Europe by the United States of America are also equally unwise. This is because they require declarations of war against Russia should a hostile regime ascends to any of these countries. Errors made by Churchill and Britain Some of the errors made by Churchill and Britain resulting to war include; the secret decisions of a small cabal cabinet for taking Britain into war against the Germany, should Germany have invaded France. The other error was due to vengeful treaty of the Versailles, which mutilated Germany, leaving the country highly betrayed, bitter as well as receptive to appeals of the Adolf Hitler. Britain capitulation because of Churchill decisions was another mistake that led to the war. The capitulation was aimed at pressuring the Americans in splitting Anglo-Japanese alliances, isolating and insulting Japan, thus pushing the country to the path of conquest and militarism. However, it is notable that the greatest mistake done by Britain was the unsolicited guarantee of war to Poland in 1939, thus resulting to Second World War (Buchanan 56). Critics to the book When one examines history, there is a higher tendency to focus at the proximate causes. One tends to look at the paths taken, instead of paths that could not have been taken. Buchanan has not made any mistake in this area. With his incredible precisions, he clearly dissects numerous small policy errors, which resulted to Holocaust as well as the First and Second World war. One of the most crucial lessons that can be learnt from the book is the fact that there is nothing that is foreseeable, not the largest tragedies or most noble forms of triumph. In one way or the other, a group of people makes certain choices that determine the fate of the world, a path well examined by Buchanan in his interesting book. Conclusion From studying the above topic, one can see the urgent need for leaders to make decisions, which are sustainable in both the short and long run. For instance, the failure of Churchill among other leaders to avert the Holocaust as well as First and Second World War led to the collapse of British Empires and loss of resources that could have bee positively used for sustainable living. In conclusion, if countries would like to avoid wars in future, there is need to examine the reasons why decisions made by leaders and were seen to be smart during the time have been proved to be unintelligent in the recent times. Work Cited Buchanan, Patrick. Churchill, Hitler and the Unnecessary War: How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World. New York: Crown Publishers, 2008. Read More