We Shall Fight on the Beaches

Winston Churchill made this speech to the House of Commons in the British Parliament. Delivered at a crucial point in World War II, it is one of Churchill’s most famous orations, presented early on in his term as Prime Minister. Churchill uses several rhetorical devices and literary tools to unite his people and encourage them to continue their fight against the power of Hitler. The speech was also intended to rally support from Britain’s allies and the broader international community. By demonstrating Britain’s determination to continue the fight against Nazi Germany, he aimed to inspire confidence and solidarity among Allied nations and encourage the United States to join the war. Throughout the speech, Churchill balances the largely negative content of the news he must deliver with patriotic messages of hope for the British people.

In a war where the acts of one man affect the lives of millions, Winston Churchill addresses his country’s leaders with the encompassing “we” to describe military efforts, pursuits, shortcomings, and victories. By referring to the military and citizens as a collective being, Churchill unites the fronts of all Britain and the Allied Forces. His use of this device is most famously utilized in the speech’s final paragraph, listing all the locations “[w]e shall fight” to defend Britain and what it stands for (Paragraph 20).