American History Tellers
History Daily: Winston Churchill’s Famous “Some Chicken” Speech
Mon, 30 Dec 2024
December 30, 1941. In a rousing speech to the Canadian Parliament, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill celebrates his success in holding off Nazi Germany in the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.You can listen ad-free in the Wondery or Amazon Music app. Or for all that and more, go to IntoHistory.comHistory Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and see American history through a whole new lens. It's June 11th, 1940, in the Chateau des Muguets, a mansion 100 miles south of Paris, one month after German troops invaded France in the beginning of World War II. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sits at the head of a conference table.
He takes a sip from a cup of tea and silently stares down the British and French officers seated around him. But the moment of quiet is interrupted by the sound of fighter planes flying overhead. Churchill puts down his cup of tea and addresses the war council before him.
He doesn't mince words, saying that if the French army does not muster a defense of their country, France will fall into the clutches of the Nazis. Churchill clamps a cigar between his teeth and lights up. As he blows smoke across the table, he demands to know how the French generals plan to launch a successful counterattack. For a few awkward moments, the generals squirm, looking uncomfortable.
until General Maxime Weygand clears his throat. Weygand says there's no way France can stop the Nazis, and they should ask for a ceasefire. Many generals in the room nod and make known their approval of surrender, but Churchill is livid. He slams his hands down on the table, shocking the room into silence again.
He bellows that France must not surrender, and in response, another French general at the table insists that they have no choice. Hearing this, Churchill rises from his seat and raises his voice even further, loudly announcing that Britain will never surrender. In response, General Weygand rises as well. He looks Churchill in the eyes, and with a sneer, says that his plan to fight on is a fantasy.
Germany will conquer France, and when they do, the Brits will be next. In three weeks, he says, Britain will have her neck wrung like a chicken. Winston Churchill left this council of war and flew back to London with a heavy heart. He knew that the French were on the verge of capitulating to their German invaders.
But Churchill was determined to prove General Weygand wrong by ensuring that Britain did not fall to the Nazis as well. Over the next 18 months, Churchill will lead Britain through a dark period when a German invasion was a very real possibility. Initially, the German Air Force will take to the skies, trying to destroy the Royal Air Force in what's known as the Battle of Britain.
Later, the Nazis will bomb civilians in an unrelenting campaign called the Blitz. In the end, Britain will survive these threats, and Churchill will deliver a famous rebuttal to General Vigin during a rousing speech to the Canadian Parliament on December 30, 1941.
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