On 1 October 1939 Winston Churchill gave his first wartime broadcast, on the recently created ѿý ѿý Service. Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, delivered his assessment of the first month of hostilities. He did not like the ѿý - which had defied the government to carry statements from strike leaders during the 1926 general Strike - and had only broadcast infrequently before the war. However, he understood the power radio gave him to speak to the nation.
The speech is not as famous as the ones Churchill delivered as Prime Minister during the summer of 1940, but did contain his opinion of Russian intentions as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. Churchill spoke of the defence and fall of Poland against the onslaught of Germany and Russia.
He suggested that Russia’s natural interests would not coincide with those of Germany. He also asserted that the Germans were not winning the U-boat war, despite initial success. Churchill said the nation should prepare for a long conflict of 3 years and ended by likening the struggle against Nazism to the American Civil War fight against slavery.
It is hard to quantify the significance of Churchill’s wartime speeches in bolstering national morale during the long years of the war. But more than half the adult population tuned in to them and the nation came to a virtual standstill as utility companies reported a fall in demand while he was on air.
World War 2 and the ѿý
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              The ѿý at WarThe ѿý reinvented itself during World War 2 and public perception of the institution changed dramatically. Explore its expansion into a global media network, the changing nature of its programming, and the way that war re-defined its relationship with both government and audiences.
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              Chamberlain returns from Munich - 30 September 1938Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returns with a paper signed by Adolf Hitler.
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              ѿý Monitoring founded - 26 August 1939As part of the intelligence war effort, ѿý Monitoring gathered and interpreted international news from across the World.
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              Close down of Television service for the duration of the War - 1 September 1939Mickey Mouse is the last star seen on ѿý Television for six years as the TV service is shut down for the duration of WW2.
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              Chamberlain announces Britain is at war with Germany - 3 September 1939"I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany."
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              Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast - 1 October 1939Churchill delivers the first of many broadcasts which define the collective memory of WW2.
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              De Gaulle's first broadcast to France - 18 June 1940General Charles de Gaulle broadcast to German occupied France, and rallied the French Resistance to him in London.
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              The Battle of Britain - Summer 1940The ѿý reports on the battle taking place in the skies
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              Bombing of Broadcasting House - 15 October 1940A bomb lands on the ѿý's headquarters, killing 4 men and 3 women.
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              The Queen’s Hall destroyed by bombing - 10 May 1941The Proms loses its home, but rises from the ashes at the Albert Hall.
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              London Calling Europe began - 6 July 1941London Calling Europe was one of many programmes broadcast by the ѿý to occupied Europe.
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              D-Day broadcasts - 6 June 1944John Snagge announces that "D-Day has come..." as the Allies land on the beaches in Normandy.
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              VE Day broadcasts - 8 May 1945Winston Churchill announced the end of the War in Europe with a speech broadcast from Downing St, but the war in the Far East continues.
October anniversaries
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              Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast1 October 1939
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              Songs of Praise1 October 1961
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              Live and Kicking2 October 1993
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              Points of View2 October 1961
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              The Trials of Life3 October 1990
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              Pick of the Pops4 October 1955
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              Monty Python's Flying Circus5 October 1969
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              Poldark5 October 1975
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              You and Yours6 October 1970
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              Woman's Hour7 October 1946
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              DIY SOS7 October 1999
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              Later... with Jools Holland8 October 1992
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              In Touch8 October 1961
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              Make Yourself At ѿý - Programmes for Immigrants10 October 1965
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              Grandstand11 October 1958
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              Around the World in 80 Days11 October 1989
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              On The Move12 October 1975
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              First edition of Any Questions12 October 1948
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              First edition of Omnibus13 October 1967
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              Bombing of Broadcasting House15 October 1940
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              Play For Today15 October 1970
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              First televised Party Election Broadcast15 October 1951
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              Birds of a Feather16 October 1989
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              Blue Peter first broadcast16 October 1958
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              The Magic Roundabout18 October 1965
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              The formation of the ѿý18 October 1922
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              ѿý Symphony Orchestra first broadcast22 October 1930
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              Captain Pugwash22 October 1957
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              Terry and June24 October 1979
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              Launch of daytime television27 October 1986
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              The Wednesday Play first broadcast28 October 1964
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              First edition of Today28 October 1957
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              Maida Vale opens30 October 1934
