We Shall Fight On The Beaches is a common title given to a speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons of the British Parliament on the 4 June 1940.
This was the second of three major speeches given during (roughly) the period of the Battle of France, with the others designated as the "Blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech of 13 May, and the "This was their finest hour" speech of 18 June.
Events developed dramatically over the 5-week period, and although broadly similar in themes, each speech addresses a different military and diplomatic context, in which it should be approached. In this speech, Churchill had to
* describe a great military disaster, and warn of a possible German invasion attempt, without casting doubt on eventual victory
* prepare his domestic audience for France going out of the war without in any way releasing France to do so
* reiterate a policy and an aim unchanged - despite the intervening events - from his May 13th speech, in which he had said
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy?
I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime.
That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be...
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