Churchills Attitude To Post War Europe

Question 1

What election does Churchill loose ?
What he do soon after

Answer 1

July 1945
He then made a major speech in September 1946 Zurich to which added to his reputation as a major figure in Europe
- argued for a ‘European family’ and ‘ United States of Europe’

Question 2

What was Churchills name used for ?

Answer 2

Supporters of greater European unity

Question 3

What had Churchill previously supported European unity ?
What is this a part of

Answer 3

French statesman Briands idea for a European Union in 1930

Had previsouky supported a British French union in 1940

His view of European unity is seen as a part of his belief that Britain and her empire had a unique position being a part of three major non communist groups
- Anglo American group
- commonwealth and empire group
- Western Europe

Question 4

As a concept until was a good idea however there were some problems. List some of these problems.

Answer 4

• post war Britain was struggling economically and the defence costs were very high
• there were countries who didn’t want Britain to dominate
• concern from left that Britian sucked into American hostility and right wing saw greater European unity as undermining Britains traditional freedom of action
• Churchill didn’t favour more than a loose association of European nations affirming shared values
• Churchill did much to establish the view that Europe was divided by an iron curtain- it was confined to Western Europe