Timeline of Winston Churchill's first premiership
The following is a timeline of the first premiership of Winston Churchill, who was the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Churchill served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom during the bulk of World War II. His speeches and radio broadcasts helped inspire British resistance, especially during the difficult days of 1940–41 when the British Commonwealth and Empire stood almost alone in its active opposition to Nazi Germany. He led Britain as prime minister until victory over Nazi Germany had been secured.
After the Conservative Party lost the 1945 election, Churchill became Leader of the Opposition to the Labour Government. He would go on to be re-elected as prime minister in 1951.
1940
April
*May
*June
*August
*October
*November
*1941
February
*April
*June
*July
*August
*December
- 8 December 1941: With the hope of using Irish ports for counter submarine operations, Churchill sends a telegram to the Irish Prime Minister in which he obliquely offers Irish unity: "Now is your chance. Now or never! A nation once again! I will meet you wherever you wish." No meeting took place between the two prime ministers and there is no record of a response from the Irish Prime Minister Éamon de Valera.
1942
February
*April
*May
*June
*July
*August
*November
*December
*1943
January
*May
*July
*August
*October
*November
*1944
February
*June
*August
*September
*October
*December
*1945
February
*April
*May
- 23 May 1945: Wartime coalition ends. Start of brief caretaker government.
June
- 5 June 1945: The longest parliament of the 20th century is dissolved.