Finest Years Read Online Free PDF

fleet, 69; and Irish neutrality, 70–2; plans defence against German invasion, 73–4, 96–7, 103, 123; belief in bombing campaign against Germany, 74–5, 248, 425, 560–4; effect of speeches, 75–6, 93; foresees German attack on Russia, 75; orders formation of SOE, 75, 451; sentimentality, 80; personal security, 81; and technological innovation, 84–5; exploits Ultra intelligence, 85; phrase on debt to ‘the few’ in Battle of Britain, 87; isolation and remoteness, 88, 315, 374; personal qualities and manner, 89–93, 110, 230; scrutinises newspapers, 91, 120, 334; popularity, 98, 104–5, 106; US admiration for, 103–4; elected Tory leader, 106; magnanimity towards Germany, 108; working routines and methods, 108, 224–5; obituary tribute to Chamberlain, 109; First World War soldiering, 113; on winning war, 113–14; believes fitted for higher command, 115; proposes minor operations, 116; supports campaign in Middle East, 117–18; intervention in Greece, 119–20, 124–5, 129; impatience with Wavell, 127–8, 138; relations with and view of commanders, 127–8, 131, 140, 208, 260–1, 267; on British retreat in North Africa, 130–1; admits to defeat in Mediterranean, 135; dismisses Wavell, 139; chairs war cabinet, 140; high command organisation, staff and entourage, 142–8; independence of thought and judgment, 147–8; on Western aid to Russia, 150, 168; welcomes Russia as wartime ally, 152–4, 160; apprehension over airborne attack on Britain, 158; cultivates relations with Roosevelt, 177, 190, 193, 196, 229–31, 435–6; earlier visits to USA, 177–8; relations with Hopkins, 180–3; fears Japanese aggression, 189, 196, 205, 207, 212; awarded honorary doctorate by Rochester University, New York, 190; meets Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, 191–8; lacks social intimates, 193; hostility to socialism, 194; supposed interest in Crown Princess Marthe of Norway, 194; wartime diet and comforts, 202; sends naval battle squadron to Far East, 205, 215; Brooke’s relations with, 211, 252, 374, 380, 510, 521, 568–9, 593; declares war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, 212–13; visit to Roosevelt in Washington (December 1941), 216–24, 227–8, 239; strategic proposals after US entry, 217–19, 226; aversion to whistling, 218; addresses US Congress, 222–3, 377; angina attack, 223; single-mindedness about war, 225; popular and official criticisms of, 233–4, 237–8, 243–4, 257; attitude to dominions, 235; imperialist prejudices, 235–6, 597; demands votes of confidence in Commons: (January 1942), 236; (1944), 477; (December 1944), 529; health concerns, 236; despair at fall of Singapore, 238–40, 244, 251; promises use of poison gas if used against Russia, 245; opposes bombing of civilians, 247; uninterested in post-war and social concerns, 252–4, 508; opposes Indian independence, 255; and army’s poor performance, 259–62, 271; on elements of war, 262; attitude to workers, 281–399–500; letter from Roosevelt advocating second front to relieve Russians, 283–6; Molotov meets, 288, 291; visits Roosevelt (June 1942), 296–7, 302; popular US hostility to, 301–2; resists demands for early second front, 306, 312; low contemporary media coverage of, 307; faces censure motion in Commons, 309–10; visit to Middle East and Moscow (1942), 315–20; discomfort on flight, 316; appoints and replaces commanders, 319; Soviet knowledge of activities, 321–2; meeting with Stalin in Moscow (1942), 323–9;misjudges relations with Russia, 330; return to Cairo, 332; optimism, 334–5; at low ebb, 336; and battle of Alamein, 337–8, 339–41; hopes for invasion of continent in 1943, 345, 349–50, 352; impatience to act, 345–6; view of de Gaulle, 347–8, 446–7, 505; attends Casablanca conference, 352–7, 358–9; proposes summit meeting