The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

In the midst of sober war preparations, Churchill’s teenaged daughter Mary attends a jovial party given by her friend Judith Venetia Montagu. Although the young members of Britain’s aristocracy enjoy nightlife and partying, the impending war brings out a more responsible side to them. The men join various branches of the military, while the women help the war effort by resettling evacuees and providing food and clothing.

One of the members of this social set is John “Jock” Colville, formerly private secretary to Neville Chamberlain and now performing the same task for Churchill. He is skeptical of Churchill’s appointment and suspects that his old boss may return. Meanwhile, Lord Halifax, formerly a favored candidate for prime minister, is reappointed to his post as foreign secretary. Some observers have reservations about Churchill’s appointment due to his temperament and ego; others express the confidence and reassurance they feel from his leadership. 

Churchill counts heavily on the participation of the United States in the war to save Britain and Europe from the Nazis. However, this relationship will prove to be a challenge as a large portion of the American public is isolationist, and doubts persist among the cabinet and ambassador Joseph Kennedy about Churchill’s competence to win the war. Nevertheless, Churchill is determined to involve the United States in the war effort. 

Now prime minister, Churchill establishes himself as a very different leader from Neville Chamberlain, bringing a new electricity and excitement to staid government departments. He appoints himself minister of defense, a new post which will oversee the various branches of the British military. He assembles his cabinet, keeping Chamberlain in a ceremonial post and appointing Lord Halifax as foreign secretary and Major Hastings Ismay as military chief of staff. Anthony Eden becomes Churchill’s secretary of war.

Germany continues to pummel the Low Countries and France with bombs and tanks. As the situation in France deteriorates, there is new fear that Hitler will next set his sights on Britain. Churchill makes a renewed plea for assistance from American President Roosevelt, but the latter cites the need to get approval from Congress; he is also wary of public opinion and his impending bid for a third term. Churchill decides not to send British aircraft to help France, as they will be needed to defend Britain against an imminent attack. His radio speech appraising the situation does much to reassure the British people, but even so, the developments from France look dire. 

There is growing fear of an imminent German invasion of Britain, with London as the primary target. War production, still stuck on a prewar schedule, is hampered by shortage of parts and materials and damaged aircraft. To improve matters, Churchill creates the Ministry of Aircraft Production, appointing his colorful friend Lord Beaverbrook as head. Aware that he is a prime target, Churchill takes precautions to protect his person in the event of an attack. The beautiful May weather and full moon eerily serve to facilitate the German advance by water and air. 

Hitler orders his army to halt its advance against the British Expeditionary Force (the British forces stationed in Europe) and gives his air force (the Luftwaffe) permission to destroy them. Hermann Goring, the head of the Luftwaffe, is an “ebullient and joyously corrupt personality” who holds “enormous power” over a number of realms in Germany (49). He is an eccentric who enjoys wearing extravagant costumes as well as an avid art lover who confiscates expensive artworks from Jewish households. Outside observers consider Goring to have a “limited grip on sanity” (50), and they see him as a “salty, earthy, lusty man of flesh and blood” in contrast to the cold and distant Hitler (51). He is practically “worshipped” by the officers who serve him, although he has little appreciation of how aerial warfare has changed since World War I. 

John “Jock” Colville, Churchill’s private secretary, finds himself in love with Gay Margesson, a student at Oxford and the daughter of an appeasement-minded member of Parliament. Colville visits Gay at Oxford, and they enjoy their time together. However, Gay does not reciprocate Colville’s affections and does not want to marry him. Colville holds out hope that she will change her mind.

On May 26, Churchill orders the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk on the French coast. The evacuation is effected using fishing boats and other small vessels. Hitler orders his army to resume its advance against the BEF. 

The escape of the “Tommies” (BEF soldiers) from the French coast rivets world attention. At first, not enough soldiers are evacuated to constitute a viable army back at home, a situation that paints a bleak picture of the British army’s prospects. Later, however, the evacuation picks up considerably and proves “successful beyond imagining” (57).

During the uncertain early stages of the evacuation, Churchill orders his ministers to put on a strong front and show “high morale” to encourage the British people. In speeches to the House of Commons, he denies the possibility of appeasement with Hitler and proclaims that Britain “shall never surrender” (58). His ministers and the public are heartened by Churchill’s “breathtaking” oratory and by his inspiring confidence. As one of his ministers declares, he is “the only man we have, for this hour” (57). 

In light of the success of the Dunkirk evacuation, British generals fear a darker flip side: that German forces may be able easily to cross the channel and invade England. 

Churchill is annoyed at not being able to do anything to prevent France from falling to the German occupiers. He meets with the French prime minister, Paul Reynaud, but the negotiation comes to nothing. Churchill would like to send Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters to help defend France, but he believes they must be kept to fend off an invasion at home.

Colville worries about his two brothers serving in the war and would like to leave his government job to join the armed forces as well. Churchill’s scientific adviser Frederick Lindemann, known colloquially as the Prof, learns from a young protégé of his that the Germans have developed an advanced form of radar that could give them a “huge advantage in the air war” (64).