Julio’s review of The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965 > Likes and Comments

Hello, Anna: Nice to meet you. I've read the first two volumes of Manchester's biography and am glad to turn to the third. Thus far, I find this volume very well-researched and well-written, though it clocks in at over 1,000 pages.

Yes, Anna: I've watched quite a few documentaries and dramas on Churchill: The original broadcast of THE GATHERING STORM, with Richard Burton; CHURCHILL AND THE GENERALS; and DARKEST HOUR, although it takes great liberties with history. I agree that this volume pictures Britain in the early Forties, with little social history, alas.

Anna, I, too, enjoy our convos, but prefer to stay in touch here on GR.

Thank you, I suppose. Kind of a garbled word salad, but thank you

Great review, Julio. So Churchill was feeding Stalin British intelligence on German rearmament in the 30s. Stalin, in his second five year plan was already building dual use factories in 1932 in order to produce tanks and trucks for a war that he knew was coming even if he had to start it.

Paul wrote: "Thank you, I suppose. Kind of a garbled word salad, but thank you"

You are welcome, Paul. "I suppose" is all-purpose, no?

Peter wrote: "Great review, Julio. So Churchill was feeding Stalin British intelligence on German rearmament in the 30s. Stalin, in his second five year plan was already building dual use factories in 1932 in or..."
Many thanks, Peter. Stalin knew war was coming, but Hitler still tricked him on the date. Just follow his activities during June, 22, 1941.

Wow, what a thorough review, Julio! Although I’ve read quite a bit on WWII, this is the first I’ve heard of Churchill considering a about creating a “naval incident” to bring the US into the war. I’m wondering where Manchester got his source for that tidbit, as Churchill was very careful about what he wrote in his diaries once he came into power.

Julio wrote: "Peter wrote: "Great review, Julio. So Churchill was feeding Stalin British intelligence on German rearmament in the 30s. Stalin, in his second five year plan was already building dual use factories..."

Thanks, Julio. The soviet dual use factories were already being designed in 1932, months before Hitler was asked to become chancellor. So it seems Stalin was already planning for war by that time. Perhaps Hitler felt his stance was defensive.

David wrote: "Wow, what a thorough review, Julio! Although I’ve read quite a bit on WWII, this is the first I’ve heard of Churchill considering a about creating a “naval incident” to bring the US into the war. I..."many thanks, David: Manchester cites a conversation between Churchill, Averell Harriman and US Ambassador to Britain Gil Winant from early 1941 where the three considered the benefits to Britain of a direct German attack on a US ship in the North Atlantic and how one could be "precipitated", to use Manchester's word. The conversation is reproduced in the book FDR's UNDECLARED WAR, 1939-1941 by T. Ferenbach.

Wow! Looks like you’re writing for a Netflix documentary about war 😉
Great review, Julio 👏

That's funny, Maria. Many thanks for stopping by. Churchill, the man is more interesting than the statesman and military leader.

Wow, one of the best reviews I have ever seen!!!

Not to mention that Churchill was in a class of his own. For good and bad reasons...

Thanks, Ravan: He proved that in a mediocre age a giant of a man could still sway events, and live life his way.