Winston Churchill: 'This Was Their Finest Hour'

On June 18, 1940, Britain stood at the edge of the shadow of Nazi occupation. France was negotiating the terms of an armistice with Germany, and many people believed that Britain was doomed to fall as well. Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the nation to prepare the British people for total war. This speech, given before the House of Commons and then broadcast by radio, is considered by many to be Churchill’s greatest. The closing of the speech appears here.