world of warships british destroyers event

What followed was three-and-a-half months of negotiations. The defeat of Britain would be a catastrophe for the United States, leaving it at risk for war on two fronts. 37-38.Ĭhurchill asked the United States for the loan of “forty or fifty of your older destroyers,” and warned that without them Britain would be unable to fight the “Battle of the Atlantic” against Germany and Italy. Churchill and Roosevelt – the Complete Correspondence. You may have completely subjugated, Nazified Europe established with astonishing swiftness, and the weight may be more than we can bear.”Ĭhurchill, Winston, and Warren F. President, that the voice and force of the United States may count for nothing if they are withheld too long. We expect to be attacked here ourselves, both from the air and by parachute and air borne troops in the near future, and are getting ready from them. If necessary, we shall continue the war alone and we are not afraid of that. We must expect, though it is not yet certain, that Mussolini will hurry in to share the loot of civilization. I think myself the battle on land has only just begun…The small countries are simply smashed up, one by one, like matchwood. The enemy have a marked preponderance in the air, and their new technique is making a deep impression upon the French. Churchill’s May 15 cable to President Roosevelt described the dire situation that England was in. Winston Churchill had recently assumed the premiership of Great Britain when, on May 15, 1940, he sought assistance from the United States. Columbia University, Oral History Research Office.

Men lost their confidence in everything from seeing the nations of Europe go down so fast before Hitler’s armies.” The other countries had demonstrated weakness that was unexpected and unaccountable.

He had demonstrated furious and unanticipated striking power.

Hitler had overrun quickly most of Western Europe. “In May of 1940 the public, the editors, the officials of the United States were thrown into utmost confusion by developments in Europe.

World of warships british destroyers event