Winston Churchill “ THEIR FINEST HOUR ” June 18 ， 1940
Winston Churchill
“THEIR FINEST HOUR”
June 18，1940
I spoke the other day of the colossal military disas- ter which occurred when the French High Com- mand failed to withdraw the northern armies fromBelgium at a moment when they knew that the French front was decisively broken at Sedan and onthe Meu.
This delay entailed the loss of fifteen or six- teen French divisions and threw out of action thewhole of the British Expeditionary Force.
Our army were indeed rescued by the BritishNavy from Dunkirk，but only with the loss of alltheir cannon，vehicles and modern equipment.
This loss inevitably took some weeks to repair，and in the first two of the weeks the Battle ofFrance had been lost.
Now I put all this aside.I put it on the shelffrom which the historians may lect their docu- ments in order to tell their story.We have to thinkof the future and not of the past.
There are many who wish to hold an inquest upon the conduct of the government and of Parlia- ment during the years which led up to this catas-trophe.They wish to indict tho who were re- sponsible for the guidance of our affairs.
This also would be a foolish and perniciousprocess.There are too many in it.Let each manarch his conscience and arch his speeches，as Ifrequently arch mine.Of this I am quite sure，that if we open a quarrel between the past and theprent we shall find that we have lost the future.
The military events which have happened inFrance during the last fortnight have not come tome with any n of surpri； indeed，I indicateda fortnight ago as clearly as I could to the Hou，that the worst possibilities were open and I made itperfectly clear that whatever happened in France，it would make no difference to the resolve ofBritain and the British Empire to fight on，if neces-sary for years，and if necessary alone.
We have under arms at the prent time in thisisland over 1，250，000 men.Behind the we havethe local defen volunteers，numbering 500，000，only a portion of whom，however，are ar
med withrifles or other firearms.
活泼造句 We have incorporated into our defen force amass of weapons and we expect very large addi-tions to the weapons in the near future.Inpreparation，we intend to call up，drill and train，further large numbers at once.卑躬屈膝的意思
We also have the Dominion armies here.TheCanadians had actually landed in France，but havenow been safely withdrawn much disappointed andare here with all their artillery and equipment.The very high-class forces from the dominionswill now take part in the defen of their mothercountry.
Thus，the invasion of Great Britain at thistime would require the transport across the as ofhostile armies on a very large scale and after theyhad been so transported，they would have to becontinually maintained with all the immen massof munitions and supplies which are required forcontinuous battle，as continuous battle it wouldbe.
Now here is where we come to the navy.Af- ter all，we have a navy； some people em to for- get it.We must remind them.For more than thir-ty years I have been concerned in discussions aboutthe possibility of an overas invasion and I tookthe responsibility on behalf of the Admiralty at
thebeginning of the last war of allowing all the regulartroops to be nt out of the country although ourTerritorials had only just been called up and werequite untried.
It ems to me that as far as a-borne inva-sion on a great scale is concerned，we are far morecapable of meeting it than we were at many periodsin the last war and during the early months of thiswar before our troops were trained and while theBritish Expeditionary Force was abroad.简单美甲图片
We have also a great system of mine fields，recently reinforced，through which we alone knowthe channel.If the enemy tries to sweep a channelthrough the mine fields，it will be the task of thenavy to destroy the mine-sweepers and any otherforce employed to protect them.There ought to beno difficulty about this，owing to our superiority ata.
Some people will ask why it was that theBritish Navy was not able to prevent the movementof a large army from Germany into Norway acrossthe Skagerrak.But conditions in the Channel andin the North Sea are in no way like tho whichprevail in the Skagerrak.In the Skagerrak，be- cau of the distance，we could give no air supportto our surface ships
and conquently，lying as wedid clo to the enemy's main air power in Norwe-gian waters，we were compelled to u only oursubmarines.
This brings me naturally to the great questionof invasion from the air and the impending strugglebetween the British and German Air Forces.
It ems quite clear that no invasion on a scalebeyond the capacity of our ground forces to crushspeedily is likely to take place from the air untilour air force has been definitely overpowered.Inthe meantime，there may be raids by parachutetroops and attempted descents by air-borne soldiers.We ought to be able to give tho gentrya warm reception，both in the air and if they reachthe ground in any condition to continue their dis- pute.（The great question is，can we break Hitler'sair weapon？）
Now，of cour，it is a very great pity that wehave not got an air force at least equal to that of the most powerful enemy within reach of our shores，but we have a very powerful air force，which has proved itlf far superior in quality bothin men and in many types of machines to what wehave met so far in the numerous fierce air battleswhich have been fought.
There remains the danger of the bombing at- tacks，which will certainly be made very soon uponus by the bomber forces of the enemy.It is quitetrue that the forces are superior in number toours，but we have a very large bombing force alsowhich we shall u to strike at the military targetsin Germany without intermission.
I do not at all underrate the verity of the or-deal which lies before us，but I believe that ourcountrymen will show themlves capable of stand-ing up to it and carrying on in spite of it at least aswell as any other people in the world.
It will depend upon themlves，and everyman and woman will have the chance of showingthe finest qualities of their race and of renderingthe highest rvice to their cau.油芥菜
For all of us，whatever our sphere or station，it will be a help to remember the famous lines：He nothing common did，or mean Upon that memorable scene.
I have thought it right on this occasion to givethe Hou and the country some indication of thesolid，practical grounds upon which we are basingour invincible resolve to continue the war，and I can assure them that our professional advirs ofthe three rvices unitedly advi that we should doit，and that there are good and reasonable hopes offinal victory.
We have fully informed all the lf-governingdominions and we have received from all PrimeMinisters messages couched in the most movingterms，in which they endor our decision and de- clare themlves ready to share our fortunes andpervere to the end.烧茄子怎么做
桉树种植 We may now ask ourlves in what way hasour position worned since the beginning of thewar.It is worned by the fact that the Germanshave conquered a large part of the coast of the Al- lies in Western Europe，and many small and countrieshave beed overrun by them.This aggravates thepossibility of air attack and adds to our naval pre-occupation，but it in no way diminishes，but on thecontrary definitely increas，the power of ourlong-distance blockade.
Should military resistance come to an end inFrance—which is not yet，though it will in anyca be greatly diminished—the Germans can con-centrate their forces both military and industrial upon us.But for the reason given to the Hou thiswill not be easy to apply.
If invasion becomes more imminent，we havebeen relieved from the task of maintaining a largearmy in France and we have a far larger and moreefficient force here to meet it.
If Hitler can bring under despotic control theindustries of the countries he has conquered，thiswill add grestly to his already vast armament out-put.On the other hand，this will not happen im-mediately and we are now assured of immen con-tinued and increasing support in munitions of allkinds from the United States，and especially of air-planes and pilots from across the ocean.They willcome from regions beyond the reach of enemybombers.I do not e how any of the factors can
oper-ate to our detriment，on balance，before the Win-ter comes，and the Winter will impo a strain up-on the Nazi regime，with half Europe writhing andstarving under its heel，which，for all their ruth-lessness，will run them very hard.
Therefore in casting up this dread balancesheet and contemplating our dangers with a disillu-sioned eye，I e great reasons for inten exertionand vigilance，but none whatever for panic or de- spair.During the first four months of the last warthe Allies experienced nothing but disaster and dis- appointment，and yet at the end their morale washigher than that of the Germans，who had movedfrom one aggressive triumph to another.
During that war we repeatedly asked ourlvesthe question，“How are we going to win？”and noone was ever able to answer it with much preci-sion，until at the end，quite suddenly and unex- pectedly，our terrible foe collapd before us andwe were so glutted with victory that in our folly wecast it away.
We do not yet know what will happen inFrance or whether the French resistance will beprolonged both in France and in
the French Empireoveras.The French Government will be throw- ing away great opportunities and
casting away theirfuture if they do not continue the war in accordancewith their treaty obligations，from which we havenot felt able to relea them.
The Hou will have read the historic declara-tion in which.at the desire of many Frenchmenand of our own hearts，we have proclaimed ourwillingness to conclude at the darkest hour inFrench history a union of common citizenship intheir struggle.
However matters may go in France or with theFrench Government，or another French Govern-ment，we in this island and in the British Empirewill never lo our n of comradeship with theFrench people.
If we are now called upon to endure what theyhave suffered，we shall emulate their courage，andif final victory rewards our toils they shall sharethe gain—aye，freedom shall be restored to all.We abate nothing of our just demands.Czechs，Poles，Norwegians，Dutch and Belgians，who havejoined their caus with our own，all shall be re-stored.
What General Weygand called the Battle ofFrance is over.The Battle of Britain is about tobegin.On this battle depends the survival ofChristian civilization.
Upon it depends our own British life and thelong continuity of our institutions and our empire.The whole fury and might of the enemy must verysoon be turned upon us.Hitler knows he will haveto break us in this island or lo the war.
If we can stand up to him all Europe may befreed and the life of the world may move forwardinto broad sunlit uplands；but if we fail，the wholeworld，including the United States and all that wehave known and cared for，will sink into the abyssof a new dark age made more sinister and perhapsmore prolonged by the lights of a perverted sci- ence.
Let us therefore brace ourlves to our dutyand so bear ourlves that if the British Common- wealth and Empire last for a thousand years，menwill still say“This was their finest hour.”
温斯顿·丘吉尔
引溺
“他们最光辉的时刻”
1940年6⽉18⽇
前些时我曾经谈到这场⾮常的军事灾难：法军统帅部在获悉法国前线在⾊当和马斯河⼀线肯定已经被突破时，没有能及时将北⾯的部队从⽐利时撤出。
这⼀延误使法军丧失了⼗五六个师，⽽且使整个英国远征军完全失去作⽤。
我们的陆军诚然被海军从敦刻尔克营救出来，但已经损失了全部的⼤炮、车辆和其他现代化装备。这些损失不得不花好⼏个星期去休整。然⽽休整刚刚开始两个星期，法国就溃败了。
这⼀切现在都不必多谈了，不妨束之⾼阁，待历史学家们去翻档案讲故事吧。我们要思考的是将来⽽不是过去。
有不少⼈希望进⾏⼀次调查，查⼀查在把我们导向这场悲剧的这些年⾥政府和国会的所作所为。他们希望起诉那些对国务负有领导责任的⼈。
这也是⼀种愚蠢有害的做法。涉及的⼈太多了。让每个⼈去扪⼼⾃问，去反省⼀下⾃⼰的⾔论吧，就像我经常反省⾃⼰那样。我敢肯定，如果我们在过去和现在之间展开⼀场争吵，我们⽇后会发现，我们已经失去了将来。
过去两个星期⾥法国发⽣的军事情况并未使我感到吃惊。其实两星期以前我已经尽可能清楚地向下院说明，最坏的可能性已见端倪。我说得⾮常明确，⽆论法国出现什么情况，决不会影响英国和英帝国继续作战，必要时可以长期作战，必要时也可以单独作战。
眼下，本岛有125万部队处于战备状态。此外还有地⽅防卫志愿军50万，不过他们之中只有⼀部分装
备有步枪或其他⽕器。
我们的国防部队已经集中了⼤量的武器，不久的将来还有望获得极⼤量的补充。我们正在准备⽴即再征集、训练⼤量兵员。
我们这⾥还有各⾃治领的部队。加拿⼤部队其实已在法国登陆，他们⼤失所望，不过现在已经安全地携带全部⼤炮和装备撤到我们这⾥。这些从⾃治领来的⾼⽔平的部队将参加保卫他们的母国。
因此，现在想侵犯⼤不列颠，敌军就必须极⼤规模地越海运输部队，⽽部队运输之后⼜必须持续供应持久战所必需的⼤量军⽕和给养，因为战争必将是持久的。
现在该谈谈海军了。毕竟我们还有⼀⽀海军，有些⼈似乎忘了，我们必须提醒他们。30多年来我⼀直关注着关于海上⼊
侵的可能性的讨论。上次⼤战开始时我曾代表海军部负责运送所有的正规部队出国，虽然那时我们的本⼟防卫队刚刚征集，尚待考验。
我觉得，就海上⼤规模⼊侵的问题⽽⾔，⽐起上次⼤战中很多时候以及这次⼤战中头⼏个⽉我们的部队未及训练⽽英国远征军⼜在国外的情况来，我们现在对付他们的能⼒要强得多。
我们还有⼀个⼤⾯积的⽔雷区，最近它⼜得到了加强。只有我们⾃⼰知道⽔雷区的航道。如果敌⼈试图在⽔雷区清扫出⼀条航道，我们海军的任务就是摧毁他们的扫雷舰以及为扫雷舰护航的其他部队。由于我们的海上优势，这⼀点应该是没有困难的。
有些⼈会问，为什么英国海军没能阻⽌⼀⽀⼤部队从德国越过斯卡格拉克海峡进⼊挪威？应该说，英吉利海峡及北海的情况和斯卡格拉克海峡普遍存在的情况是完全不同的。在斯卡格拉克海峡，由于距离太远。我们⽆法为⽔⾯舰船提供空中⽀援，其结果是，为了避开敌军在挪威海⾯的空军主⼒，我们只好被迫使⽤潜艇。
这就⾃然⽽然地引出空中⼊侵和即将到来的英德空军之间较量的⼤问题。
事情似乎很清楚，在我们空军的实⼒决定性地被压倒之前，规模⼤到我们的地⾯部队⽆⼒迅速予以粉碎的空中⼊侵是不⼤会发⽣的。但同时降落伞部队的突然袭击或空降兵的试图降落倒是可能的。我们应该能给这些家伙以热情的接待，⽆论在空中或者在他们落地并继续顽抗的时候。
眼前，⾮常遗憾的当然是我们⾄少还没有⼀⽀可以在我国海岸地带与⼤的敌⽅空军相匹敌的空军，但是我们毕竟还是有⼀⽀强⼤的空军，在⼈员和多种机型这两⽅⾯的质量上远优于他们遭遇的对⼿，这⼀点已在迄今为⽌多次的空中恶战中得到证明。
此外，还有轰炸的危险。敌⼈的轰炸机部队肯定很快就会轰炸我们。千真万确，这些轰炸机部队在数量上是超过我们的。不过我们也有⼀⽀强⼤的轰炸机部队，我们将⽤以不间歇地打击德国的军事⽬标。
我丝毫也没有低估我们⾯临的考验的严峻性，但是我相信我们的同胞们会证明他们能顶得住并且百折不回地坚持下去，⾄少不输给世界上任何民族。
荷花怎么折 ⼀切取决于⾃⼰，每⼀个男⼈和⼥⼈都有机会显⽰⾃⼰民族的优秀品质，为⾃⼰的事业作出的贡献。
对我们⼤家来说，⽆论什么⾝份、什么地位，记得这两⾏有名的诗总是有益的：
对那令⼈怀念的事业，他作出了卓越的贡献。
我想应该在这个场合向下院和全国说明，我们⽆⽐坚定的继续作战的决⼼是有着坚实基础的。我敢向他们保证，我们三军的参谋们⼀致认为我们应该打下去，我们有充分的、合理的取得最后胜利的希望。
我们已经把⼀切告知所有的⾃治领，我们已经收到各位总理⽤最感⼈的⾔辞表达的信息，他们⽀持我们的决定，宣布他们已经准备好和我们共命运，并坚持到底。
现在我们可以⾃问，战争爆发以来我们的处境是如何每况愈下的？！那是由于德国⼈征服了西欧协约国的⼤部分海岸，许多⼩国被侵占，这就加⼤了空中攻击的可能性，也增加了对我们海军的牵制。但我们的海军决没有被削弱，相反肯定是加强了我们远距离封锁的能⼒。
如果法国的军事抵抗告终——现在还没有，虽然不管怎么说是⼤⼤减弱了——德国⼈就能集中其军事⼒量和⼯业能⼒对付我们。不过按我向下院说过的理由，这决不是轻⽽易举的。
