Key players of World War II
By Premasara Epasinghe
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965) British Statesman,
Prime Minister (1940-1945) – (1951-1955), Franklin Delano Roosevelt
(1882-1945) 32nd US President (1933-1945), and Joseph Stalin leader of
the Soviet Union were great world leaders who played an important role
in eradicating the Nazi German power of dictator Adolf Hitler who
pursued an aggressive foreign policy of territorial expansion in East
Europe.
Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill |
One of the greatest men of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill,
was the architect who saved the European British civilisation. On the
outbreak of World War 2, he once more became the first Lord of the
admiralty. He, earlier spoke against the rising threat of Nazi Germany.
In 1940, he replaced Neville Chamberlain, (British Prime Minister
1937-1945) as Prime Minister. He proved an inspiring war leader,
resolute in his opposition to Fascism. Cultivating close relations with
American President Roosevelt, Churchill was the key-player of the grand
alliance of Britain.
Once attending an important conference at Yale, Roosevelt in his
wheelchair came to meet Churchill.
Roosevelt said “Winston, I am sorry”.
One of the most lovable and witty statesmen Churchill smilingly
replied, “Delano, Britain does not have anything to hide to United
States of America.”
Churchill hated Hitler. “I hate nobody except Hitler and that is
professional.”
Churchill was the principal architect of the grand alliance of
Britain, the USA, and Soviet Union led by Joseph Stalin which eventually
defeated the Axis Powers the term applied to Germany and Italy after
they signed the Rome-Berlin Axis in October 1936. It included Japan.
Other states that joined the Axis were Hungary and Romania (1940) and
Bulgaria (1941).
In 1945, Churchill was succeeded by Labour Prime Minister Clement
Atlee but Churchill was re-elected again in 1950. Churchill, reversed
some of Labour Party's Nationalisations. He remained an MP until 1964.
After losing his seat Dundee, very wittily Churchill remarked, “I am
without office, without a seat and without an appendix”. He was operated
for appendicites.
Sir Winston Churchill was a brilliant English scholar and one of the
best orators the world produced. His extensive writing include a
“History of the World War 2” and “History of the English Speaking People
(1956-1958). Churchill received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.
Once, George Bernard Shaw commented, “Churchill was a saint; sage;
and clown; venerable, profound and irresistible.”
Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd US President. He was a
Democrat who served in the New York Senate as Assistant Secretary
(1913-1920) of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson. He was the
Vice-Presidential candidate in 1920. In the same year, he contested as
the Vice-Presidential candidate. He lost the use of his legs due to
polio. He was the Governor of New York (1928-1932) and won the candidacy
for President. He was elected in 1932. He restored the economy which was
clouded by the Great Depression.
Roosevelt created history in the USA. He was re-elected in 1936 for
the second time and in 1940 for the third time and again in 1944 for the
fourth occasion. It was a unique record indeed.
When the second world war broke out, Roosevelt gave a big support to
Britain, as a neutral government. He died in office and was succeeded by
Harry S. Truman 33rd US President. In 1944, he was Roosevelt's running
mate. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbour was attacked. It killed about
2,400 people, destroyed 200 aircrafts and 18 ships. The attack provoked
the United States’ entry into the World War II.
Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler |
The estimated number killed in the World War II exceeded 50 million.
The great majority were civilians. Many were brutally massacred,
murdered in Nazi concentration camps. Hitler was responsible in killing
many Jews. He was the most feared Dictator ever lived in the world.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), German Fascist dictator (1933-1945), was
born in Austria. He served in the German Army, during World War I. In
1921, Hitler became the leader of the small National Socialists Workers
Party (NAZI Party) Hitler became the Chancellor in January 1933. He made
himself a dictator of one party state and his Gestapo. With upto 50,000
members by 1945, the Gestapo ran the concentration camps. He pursued an
aggressive foreign policy.
The invasion of Poland finally goaded Britain and France into
declaring war on Germany in September 1939. Hitler played a vital role
in determining the strategy during the World War II. In April 1945, with
Germany in ruins, dictator Hitler committed suicide.
Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin |
Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union (1924-1953). He
supported Lenin, Russian Revolutionary and the Bolsheviks (led by Lenin,
who seized power in Russian Revolution of 1917). He adopted the name
Stalin (Man of steel), while editing Pravda – party newspaper.
In 1922, he became secretary of the Central Committee of the party .
On Lenin's death, in 1924, he achieved supreme power through his control
of the party organisation.
During World War 2, Stalin controlled the armed forces and negotiated
skilfully with the allied leaders – Churchill and Roosevelt. |