The beaches deserted; a lot of barbed wire all over the place. J B Priestley
There really was a great community spirit during the War. Michael Foot
I still can’t forgive the Germans for the way they treated my granddad during the war. Passed over for promotion time and time again. Jimmy Carr
Germany calling! Germany calling! William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw, habitual introduction to wartime broadcasts
Allied newsmen were taken to a field near the town of Malmedy on the northern edge of the Bulge; there they were confronted with the bodies of 124 US troops who had been massacred in cold blood after they had surrendered to leading German units. 42 men had survived the massacre, most severely wounded. Great Crimes & Trials s2e25: The Malmedy Massacre, BBC 1994
Less than two weeks later another sound was heard on Britain’s radio which was to become almost as familiar to her people. The speaker soon received the derisive nickname Lord Haw Haw. Great Crimes & Trials s3e8: Lord Haw Haw, BBC 1996
At Bow Street Magistrates Court on 18th June 1945 a small undistinguished man was charged under a law which was almost six hundred years old. William Joyce was to go on trial for his life. ibid.
There was real doubt whether the British state had any right to judge William Joyce, for Lord Haw Haw was born in America and had become a German citizen. ibid.
Joyce joined the British union of fascists. ibid.
Under close guard Joyce was taken back to England. ibid.
Joyce was hanged at Wandsworth Prison on 3rd January 1946 after a final appeal for mercy had been rejected by the Home Secretary. ibid.
In the hearts of the German people there is the same preference for the joys of peace against the horrors of war. Pathé News
cf.
Everything we do is inspired by the absolute conviction that a great evil must be removed from the world. Pathé News
If you’re within five minutes of your home, go home but keep away from the windows. But the most important rule of all is never to stand staring at the sky. If you don’t take cover, you may get hurt. Pathé News
Have you a skeleton in your cupboard? Give it to Salvage and have a clear conscience. Pathé News, Ministry of Information short
Form A Make Do And Mend Group. Pathé News, Ministry of Information short
Every Woman Who Can Be Spared Is Needed Now WRNS. Pathé News, Ministry of Information short
The rousing delivery of Pathé’s voice-over artists would become familiar to millions. One man above all possessed the voice of Pathé: Bob Danvers-Walker was their most famous and durable commentator. In its darkest hours Pathé had encouraged a nation under siege. The Story of British Pathé II: The Voice of Pathé, BBC 2011
And yet at first Pathé presented a largely uncritical view of Hitler’s Germany. ibid.
There was an official body to decide what the British people could see and to prepare the nation for the trials ahead. ibid.
The newsreel was the ideal film medium to get a morale-boosting message across to the largest possible audience. ibid.
Even when reporting the worst impact of the Blitz, film-makers would strive to convey, sometimes in humorous terms, the courage and fortitude of the people. ibid.
The Ministry for Information launched several inventive campaigns with titles such as Make Do and Mend, Dig for Victory and Salvage. ibid.
Women’s roles would continue to change in the post-war years, but for now everyone could celebrate a vital victory and a return to peace. ibid.
In the 1945 general election the nation voted Churchill and the Conservatives out and Labour’s Clement Attlee in. ibid.
1940: The British people had to brace themselves for the real prospect of a German invasion. For a few terrifying months everyone knew that Britain could be next. The Germans are Coming, Yesterday 2013
The former Allies had blundered in the past by offering Germany too little, and offering even that too late, until finally Nazi Germany had become a menace to all mankind. Allan Nevins, cited Current History May 1935
You can get used to anything. Man in pub, cited The World at War 4/26: Alone, ITV 1973
In war, whichever side may call itself a victor, there are no winners, but all are losers. Neville Chamberlain
How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. Neville Chamberlain, re Germany’s annexation of Sudetenland
I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler. And here is the paper that bears his name upon it as well as mine. Neville Chamberlain
This is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. Neville Chamberlain
I don’t think the Germans have any intention of attacking us. Neville Chamberlain
The settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem which has now been achieved is in my view only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. Neville Chamberlain
This morning, the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final Note stating that unless we heard from them by eleven o’clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. Neville Chamberlain, radio broadcast 3 September 1939
Whatever may be the reason – whether it was that Hitler thought he might get away with what he had got without fighting for it, or whether it was that after all the preparations were not sufficiently complete – however, one thing is certain – he missed the bus. Neville Chamberlain, speech 4th April 1940
We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries; we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference and thus assure the people of Europe. Neville Chamberlain & Adolf Hitler
It was wonderful the way everything turned out according to plan. When the news came through that the enemy were moving forward along the whole front, I could have wept for joy. They had fallen into the trap they had believed. Adolf Hitler
The bombing campaign has had the least effect of all, as far as we can see, on the morale and the will to resist of the English people. No decisive results can be expected from terror attacks on residential areas ... Bombing is to be intensified on shipping and the ports to inflict the greatest possible damage on the British economy ... And to give the impression than an invasion is planned for this year. Adolf Hitler
If world Jewry drags Germany into another war, that will be the end of the Jews in Europe. Adolf Hitler
The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in knightly fashions. The struggle is one of ideology and race difference ... And will be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting harshness. All officers will have to rid themselves of obsolete ideologies. I know that the necessity for such means of making war is beyond the comprehension of generals, but I insist that my orders be executed without contradiction. The commissars are bearers of ideology directly opposed to National Socialism. Therefore the commissars will be liquidated ... German soldiers guilty of breaking international law will be executed. Russia has not participated in the Hague Convention and therefore has no rights under it. Adolf Hitler
Firstly to rule. Secondly to administer. Thirdly to exploit. Adolf Hitler