Five days in London, May 1940

Description:

The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940 altered the course of the history of this century, as the members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with Hitler or to continue the war. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs's magisterial new book. Lukacs takes us hour by hour into the critical unfolding of events at 10 Downing Street, where Churchill and the members of his cabinet were painfully considering their war responsibilities. We see how the military disasters taking place on the Continent—particularly the plight of the nearly 400,000 British soldiers bottled up in Dunkirk—affected Churchill's fragile political situation, for he had been prime minister only a fortnight and was regarded as impetuous and hotheaded even by many of his own party. Lukacs also investigates the mood of the British people, drawing on newspaper and Mass-Observation reports that show how the citizenry, though only partly informed about the dangers that faced them, nevertheless began to support Churchill's determination to stand fast.

subjects: World War, 1939-1945,  Politics and government,  Diplomatic history,  Guerra Mundial II, 1939-1945,  Military leadership,  Liderazgo militar,  Gran Bretaña,  Historia diplomática,  Política y gobierno,  Histoire diplomatique,  Politieke geschiedenis,  Guerre mondiale, 1939-1945,  Influence,  Politique et gouvernement,  World war, 1939-1945, great britain,  Churchill, winston, 1874-1965,  Great britain, politics and government, 20th century,  Halifax, edward frederick lindley wood, earl of, 1881-1959,  World war, 1939-1945, diplomatic history,  Political aspects,  Political aspects of World War, 1939-1945,  Tweede Wereldoorlog,  Politieke besluitvorming,  Regeringen

People: Winston Churchill Sir (1874-1965),  Edward Frederick Lindley Wood Halifax Earl of (1881-1959)

Places: Great Britain,  Gran Bretaña

Times: 1936-1945