Submitted Photo Dr. Irene Strychalski reads her paper “Winston Churchill: Approaching World War II”during the third meeting of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club.

The third meeting of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club was held recently at the home of Dr. Irene Strychalski. President Joyce Haines welcomed 13 members.

President Haines welcomed new member, Lisa Mertz. Priscilla Bernatz read the minutes from the Oct. 18 meeting. The minutes were approved as written.

Dr. Strychalski read her paper “Winston Churchill: Approaching World War II” which is summarized as follows:

Winston Churchill was born in the ducal palace of Blenheim in 1874, the grandson of a duke. He attended Sandhurst, England’s West Point, in order to use a military career as a springboard to enter politics. Churchill saw service as both a soldier and a journalist in various British overseas colonies. A month after arriving in South Africa, the Boers attacked an armored train carrying Churchill, and he was captured. After a short time, he managed a sensational escape, traveling through 300 miles of enemy territory to freedom. In England this made him a national hero, which helped his election to Parliament in 1900. In the House of Commons, he emerged as a leader in the Liberalism movement, paving the way for social reform. He resigned from the government in 1915, returning to active military service in World War I. Later he returned to Parliament and was appointed minister of munitions. There, he threw his prodigious energy to supplying the British armed forces all the weapons they needed to win. In 1931, Churchill became a political outsider, out of joint with the times, after making some old fashioned decisions. He was still the Member of Parliament from Epping, but he was no longer a central decision maker. He became a ‘Backbencher.’ However, when he did make a speech, it was momentous. Winston Churchill was a gifted writer and electrifying speaker.

Winston supported his family, and, above all his lifestyle, by writing books and articles for publication in many magazines and newspapers. He wrote a six volume history of World War 1: The World Crisis, which allowed him to purchase a mansion near London, Chartwell Manor. Here he lived the life of a country gentleman with his wife, Clementine, and family. He generally worked at night, after the family and any guests had retired. His output was prodigious. Between 1931 and 1939 he published eleven books and over 400 widely published articles.

World War 1, the ‘Great War’, devastated Europe, both winners and losers. Both sides were bankrupted, the memory of the trenches and loss of life left survivors with the will never to repeat the carnage and destruction. The people on both sides wanted stability and a future free from conflict. There was, however, one notable exception. Adolph Hitler wanted revenge for the punishment and humiliation dealt to Germany in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler wrote a Book: “Mein Kampf,” in which he outlined his vision for the future of Germany. After reading the book, Winston Churchill was convinced Germany would once again move toward war. Hitler’s vision of the European continent united under Germany, with himself as dictator was evident from the text.

Churchill decided to keep an eye on the developments in Germany and expressed his concern to a doubting opposition in parliament. In 1935, Hitler had announced that Germany was rearming in defiance of all post WWI treaties. Churchill felt that the omens of future conflict were unmistakable. He persistently argued for taking the German threat seriously, especially with regard to the poor condition and lack of Britain’s armaments.

Winston Churchill endured years of frustration in the 1930s. He saw that his beloved England was in danger, and to him, her survival outstripped all else. Prime minister after prime minister ignored Winston’s pleas for improving Britain’s defenses, irrespective even of her offensive capability and practiced a policy of ‘appeasement’ to Germany. The appeasers were all those who would do anything to prevent war, even to a point of embarrassment and self destruction. In 1935, four German military divisions were moved to the border of the Rhineland, between France and Germany. The French government knew what was coming and warned the British government. The British government remained quiet. Churchill was outspoken with his opinion that Germany meant to occupy the Rhineland and that Prime Minister Baldwin was guilty of neglecting England’s defenses in spite of every warning. On March 7, 1936 the German army marched into and occupied the Rhineland. During this time Churchill lived at Chartwell most of the time. As a ‘Backbencher’ he was not on any important committee or advisory board. He made fiery speeches, which attracted many listeners because of his dramatic expression and turn of phrase, but the message of each speech was ignored. In 1936 Churchill called for the Prime Minister to create a new cabinet post, a minister of defense, who would coordinate England’s military, but his advice was ignored. When the government finally revealed plans to build a new aircraft carrier, several new battleships, more aircraft, and raise several motorized infantry battalions, etc, Churchill was relieved and felt it was a step in the right direction, but it fell far short of what was necessary. The government appropriated only 400 million pounds to be spread over the next 5 years. In contrast, Nazi Germany was spending over twice as much on arms each year. In 1939, convinced that war was imminent, Winston proposed a defensive alliance against Hitler to consist of Britain, France and Russia, which was well received by France, but vetoed by Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister.

Eventually, with Germany’s invasion of Poland, Britain was forced to declare war with Germany. Winston Churchill was named First Lord of the Admiralty, his stepping stone to Prime Minister of Britain. His defiance, doggedness and his soul stirring speeches led the British people and the allies ultimately to victory against Nazi Germany.

Mary Jane Walker assisted at the tea table.

The next meeting of the Club will be held at the Lanford House, hosted by Harriet Tower when Mary Croxton will present Walker’s paper on “WPA 1930’s.”