The Darkest Hour

:"For other uses of the words "darkest hour" see Darkest hour (disambiguation)"

The Darkest Hour is a phrase coined by British prime minister Winston Churchill to describe the period of World War II between the fall of France in 1940 and the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941, when the British Commonwealth stood alone against Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers in Europe. It is particularly used for the time when the United Kingdom was under direct threat of invasion; following the evacuation of the British Army from Dunkirk and prior to victory in the Battle of Britain. The darkest moment is usually considered to have been 10 May 1941, when over 1,500 civilians died in Luftwaffe bombing raids on London alone.

Although the British Commonwealth was fighting the Germans and Italians alone during the period, it was not the only major force fighting the Axis. China had been engaging the Japanese since 1937, after the Japanese launched an all-out invasion.

Appearance

Their Finest Hour - Speech by Winston Churchill; June 18, 1940; House of Commons¹

War of the Unknown Warriors - Speech by Winston Churchill; July 14, 1940; BBC Broadcast, London²

References

*¹ [http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=418 Their Finest Hour] at The Churchill Centre website

*² [http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=419 War of the Unknown Warriors] at The Churchill Centre website