Churchill inquiry topic

• Churchill had served in India as a young man - influenced his perception of him
• Took late victorian view that India was the 'jewel in the crown' of the British Empire
• Believed that British rule alone prevented domination of the Hindu elites over Indian Muslims
• Thought Britain had ended 'barbaric practices' and meant economic and social progress
• Held a strong belief in racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons and their position to rule over lesser people

June 1935: Anglo-German Naval Agreement

October 1935: Abyssinia invaded, they appealed to League of Nations, Hoare-Laval Pact, undermined the League, Italy was not stopped

March 1836: Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

March 1938: Annexation of Austria (Anchluss)

September 1938: Munich Agreement

August 1939: Non-Aggression pact between Germany & Soviet Union

16th July - 2nd August 1945

Stalin:

• Fairly calm & pleasant
• Didn't react badly to US atomic bomb

Churchill:

• Relationship with Stalin had broken down
• Replaced by Atlee on 28th July - no confrontation

Truman: 

• Roosevelt's successor 
• Atomic bomb had released US from reliance upon Russian help with Japan
• Reaffirmed principles of Yalta
• Much more hostile to Stalin