Winston S. Churchill “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” June 4, 1940 Speech Broadside.

CHURCHILL, Winston S.

Item Number: 126252

Rare original broadside displaying the most resounding phrase from Churchill’s galvanizing speech before the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, widely held to be one of the finest oratorical moments of the war and of Churchill’s career. One page, lithographic broadside with text in red and black, the broadside features perhaps the best known part of the peroration of the speech, “We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 25.5 inches by 19.5 inches. Exceptionally rare and desirable.

The second of three major speeches given around the period of the Battle of France (the others being the "Blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech of May 13 and the "This was their finest hour" speech of June 18), Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech delivered before the House of Commons on June 4, 1940 is widely considered one of the finest oratorical moments of World War II and of Churchill's career. With this speech, Churchill faced with challenge of warning of a possible invasion attempt by Nazi Germany, without casting doubt on eventual victory. He was also forced to prepare his domestic audience for France's falling out of the war without in any way releasing France to do so, and wished to reiterate a policy and an aim unchanged – despite the intervening events – from his speech of May 13, in which he had declared the goal of "victory, however long and hard the road may be". Upon delivery, the speech was immediately recognized to be historic. Jock Colville, one of Churchill's secretaries, noted in his diary "A magnificent oration, which obviously moved the House". Chips Channon, a Conservative MP, wrote in his diary "he was eloquent and oratorical and used magnificent English; several Labour members cried".