A Brief History
On August 20, 1940, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the war-torn United Kingdom, delivered one of his most stirring wartime speeches, one that hailed the efforts of the Royal Air Force (RAF), known from then on and forever after as “The Few.”
Digging Deeper
All of Great Britain, but especially England, was being slammed by the might of Hitler’s Lufwaffe, and with almost all of the rest of Europe already under Axis control, the British were on their own. Hitler and his Nazi troops , however, could neither eliminate the UK from the war nor invade the island of Great Britain unless they defeated the RAF.
Hitler’s dream was not to be, for the British pilots and ground crews won the war of attrition that lasted from July through October of 1940 and became known as “The Battle of Britain.”
Although Churchill was also referring to the pilots and men of Bomber Command, most people took his words to refer only to those of Fighter Command, the air force personnel who maintained and flew the Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires. Of course, it would be remiss if the immensely important work done by the women who tracked the enemy’s formations was not mentioned.
The sentence uttered by Churchill, “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” will certainly continue to ring throughout history and keep the RAF, and especially its fighter forces, in the hearts of the British people.
Seldom have such stirring words been spoken by a politician in the acknowledgment and praise of the efforts of a military force. In continuation of this gratitude and recognition: RAF, we salute you!
Question for students (and subscribers): What if the British lost the Battle of Britain? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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For another interesting event that happened on August 20, please see the History and Headlines article: “10 Unusual Murder Weapons.”
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please read…
Barber, Nicola. Churchill and the Battle of Britain: Days of Decision. Heinemann, 2013.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3955 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=3955">154 Comments
I can’t imagine how motivated these words were to the fighters.
Showing gratitude is empowering.
He was a wonderful speaker during a time that needed that extra boost of motivation. No wonder he is such an iconic figure.
motivation is key to success
Churchill certainly did not under-appreciate the RAF and their importance in keeping Germany out. That kind of recognition made him a great leader!
The RAF was so crucial to the British military. Their pilots were so talented and had good technology as well. These pilots flew Hurricanes, Spitfires, torpedo biplanes, etc. They deserve this kind of pride from one of the best speakers and leaders of all time.
Churchill was an amazing leader and this shows that he knew what he was doing.
Powerful words at an important time
Being a leader that has the strength in his or her speech to motivate others, creates an automatic efficient leader.
Got to be a great speaker if you want to be a great leader.
It is amazing that powerful words can motivate a whole country! — DAVID WARDLE
Such a great speaker and leader of the time.
He knew exactly what to say and his timing was perfect with it. Great leader
Great leader of the time !
In a time of great, selfish leaders such as Hitler, Churchill was one that actually seemed to lead for the people, not personal gain.
Churchill was a great leader, and a great speaker
“The Few”- a great term coined. Churchill seemed to have a way with words and people.
Churchill was one of the great leaders of his time and would still be considered great if he were alive today.
I would agree that Churchill was a leader who put the people ahead of himself. Something you may not know about him was that he was born in the ladies room during a dance.
What a fun fact haha and I agree!!! He was an incredible leader of the 20th century who accomplished so much during WWII!!
I believe that Churchill is often overlooked as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. What he was able to accomplish during world war 2 was absolutely amazing, and without him Great Britain may have fallen to Hitler.
I don’t know whole lot about churchill but this quote “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” i think is beautifully written and amazing that speeches like these can motivate and inspire so many people.
Churchill speeches were powerful and connected with many people that influenced them in a postive way.
I beleive chirchill new what he was doing. He was a great speaker to his people.
Imagine what could’ve happened if Britain had been taken over by Hitler. America might not of had the support in Africa that it needed to get the Axis powers re-isolated to Europe.
Churchill’s quote is extremely fitting because without the RAF, Britain likely would have been taken under German control.
I agree with Churchill’s choice of words. The few RAF prevented the German invasion of Britain.
Good speech to recognize the importance of what the RAF had completed.
It is obvious that Prime Minister Churchill realized how important it was to have good moral for the military and the citizens of Britain. In his speech you can tell her telling the truth to the citizens and not sugar coating the events in the war.
I didn’t realize that defeating the RAF was key for Hitler’s army to eliminate or invade the UK. Interesting fact.
That is a good line that that he said. And what the Germans had to do to win.
The RAF helped stop the German invasion into Britain.
I’m glad that he gave them recognition after all they did. They deserved it.
I cant believe women who tracked the enemy’s formations was not mentioned.
It is nice to see that the RAF were recognized for their accomplishments in the war.
I’m glad to see that RAF was recognized for there efforts and accomplishments.
I’m glad they recognized for what they did, they deserved it.
Before this article i did not know that “so few” actually referred to specific people
Good to see that Churchill acknowledged the RAF for their accomplishments.
His quote about so many owing so few is perfect. Had they not prevailed, who knows what would have happened.
good speech he had and glad to know he recognized them for all they did. great to learn
Churchill sure respected his people
It would be easy to rally behind a leader that spoke like that about his nation’s heroes.
churchill was an incredible leader. no surprise people stood by his side.
Winston Churchill had a way with words that made people want to stand with him. I think without him Britain wouldn’t have prevail as they did in WWII.
Winston Churchill is very much like George Washington both were political heroes both came back to win a war (ww2 and the revolution respectively) despite severe blunders causing massive casualties in a previous conflict (ww1 and the french and indian war)
The RAF was crucial to the British military, and it seems like Churchill intelligently knew to acknowledge and respect that. Churchill was one of the greatest leaders and speakers.
I agree with Mikayla that Churchill respected his army and he knew that the RAF should be acknowledged. “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” Leaders that have such good charisma are the ones who will most likely be remembered just like Churchill.
Winston Churchill was one of those few leaders that could rally people together in times such as the one during World War II and the bombings of London. This was a difficult time for the United Kingdom and the Royal Air Force was an important line of defense for the country. In such a tough time, it is leaders such as Churchill that give people the courage to continue.
When a country is in a time of such turmoil it is immensely important for their leader to be able to stir up the emotions of their country. This is one area where Churchill excelled. Sometimes all the people need is a rallying cry.
“Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” This is a great quote by Winston Churchill that can really be applied to so many circumstances in history.
RAF played a huge role in the British military. Very smart for Churchill to respond to them like this and acknowledge the amount of help they were and for them to know that their country had their back.
It’s amazing that the RAF defeated hitlers Luftwaffe with no help. In a previous article we read about how powerful and advanced the Luftwaffe was so its impressive the RAF managed to defeat them.
Winstons Churchill speech was very powerful, you can see why he was such a respected leader during this time. His statement especially, “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few”, was bound to motivate his people to agree with his decisions.
Winston Churchill was the right leader of the UK during this war. He was influential in inspiring his men and carefully planning battle strategies. His speeches are celebrated to this day. The RAF deserve to have the nickname “The Few”.
Without the RAF, the UK could have been invaded and WWII could have had a much different and much bitter ending. I always seem to underestimate how important air forces are in battles. We really do owe so much to the men and women who fly for our country.
Solely because of the RAF, Great Britain avoided occupation and was able to participate in the liberation of Europe. If they failed, WWII would have been completely different. If we think D-Day was bad, I could not imagine getting both the UK and mainland Europe back!
It makes sense that people stood by the decision of Churchill, because he was such a good, trustworthy leader.
These words said by Churchill are so true in any war. So many people owe those few who serve the country so that we can be protected and free.
It takes leaders like Churchill to encourage people in hard times, such as during war. He knew how important the RAF was for the war and he was not afraid to say it. His words must have been a true inspiration for everyone fighting back then.
This battle never would have been as close as it was had the Allied forces payed closer attention to Germany in the time after they signed the Treaty of Versailles. The Luftwaffe had grown strong and put up quite the battle. Britain came out on top but not without both sides losing plenty.
Churchill was a great, respected leader. He knew the RAF was very important to the war and was okay with acknowledging that. Churchill’s statement, “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few,” will never be forgotten by the British people and throughout history.
The Bravery of the RAF can’t be overstated. These men were greatly outnumbered and facing the might of Hitler’s Lutwaffe (which we know shouldn’t even have been recreated). They risked everything to keep their homes and families safe.
This slogan really hits home for people. Giving credit to the few that truly kept the Germans from invading their island and destroying their homeland. I think after doing this, the RAF had the support of the people who showed their respect which would increase moral for the fighters to keep going.
The RAF saved lives by being brave and Churchill did a good job firing them up and saving what could have been a disaster for the United Kingdom. Certainly is a big piece in history for the UK and what Churchill meant to them.
The RAF were so brave and saved lives because of it. What ever Churchill said must have worked! These few deserved the credit they received. They risked their lives for their families and people. True Heros!
Thankfully the RAF were the force that they were in WWII. Without them to defend GB from the Luftwaffe, the damages could have been worse.
The RAF did an excellent job at keeping the Germans from invading. Churchill’s speech spoke highly of them because he knew how valuable they were.
The RAF along with Churchill as their leader were a powerful force who without them could have been a tragedy for the UK.
The RAF was a smart group that didn’t do anything stupid. Churchill I see as very impressive. I look up to him.
The Royal Air Force and Churchill seemed to be a group that made an impact in history. Their bravery and heroic efforts should be learned of and regurgitated throughout history.
Churchhill was one of my favorite leaders in history. A fun read!
It is remarkable that Churchill was able to motivated these men. They are true heroes!
Did these words also inspire “The few. The proud. The marines”?
The RAF definitely became heroes after saving so many lives.
Thank goodness that Churchill was able to motivate these men so that they were able to defend their country from Hitlers reign.
Churchill was able to do what most politicians are not able to do, and that is motivate his men to fight and defend there country in the threat of Hitler.
It’s amazing how everyday people in times of crisis can stand up and turn into heroes. England remembers Churchill’s comments as we remember a “December 7th 1941 a date which will live in infamy.”
Churchill inspired the military especially the RAF to fight hard against Hitler’s invasion efforts.
I believe that this is what everyone on in England needed. It gave them hope and a reason to keep fighting.
Churchill was so inspiring and I believe his speech really is a reason why England kept fighting in such a difficult time for the whole country.
The Royal Air Force was what saved the UK from being eliminated from the war and kept Great Britain from getting invaded. Without them complete chaos could have taken over because of Germany.
It is amazing how so many countries came together to fight against Hitler. Without a team work effort from everyone it is hard telling what would have happened.
Perhaps one of the most known saying from Winston Churchill was “If you’re going through hell, just keep going.”
Such a powerful speech by Winston Churchill! They were so determined to win over Germany and so prepared as W. C. would sat “Never, Never, Never give up”
Churchill was beyond grateful to the Royal Air Force. I think it is important for Americans to remember to be grateful for the men and women that serve our country.
I found it kind of scary that most people took Hitler’s words to only refer to those of the Fighter Command even though he was referring to the pilots and men of Bomber Command. This is scary because a misinterpreted word at war time can harm rather than hamper how people are affected.
This article is a reminder of the sacrifices and the amazing strides that the men and women who fight for our countries make. We as citizens of our country truly do owe so much to these people.
The airforce of England was especially dangerous i am glad knowing that a speech had such an impact on the war.
Knowing how dangerous Hitler and his supporters were at the time, it makes sense as to why the RAF if still honored today and remembered for their great courage.
Winston Churchill used the power of words and acts of appreciation to inspire many during a trying time.
The wise words of Winston Churchill truly do still ring through the country today. He gave such a powerful speech and it is impressive to see what an impact on the war that just his speech had.
Royal Air force plays an significant role in the history of United Kingdom. Winston Churchill understood that it was the useful power and supported it to play a role in the war.
The first time I heard about Churchill was a movie about wars. He was so powerful and encouraging people by his words and his decisions.
It is understandable as to why the British Air Force is still honored. Germany at the time had such a force and what the BAF did, deserved to be remembered. It is important for people to understand how much the military does for one’s country.
I believe that this kept the people in England fighting and it gave them hope.
Winston Churchill seemed like a great man with honor.
I wonder how the United Kingdom would have fared without Churchill’s encouraging speech.
Winston Churchill was a great leader for England at the time of the war, and he gave a great speech in order to boost the people’s confidence during the bad war times.
What an awesome quote, cant get any more cool than that!
Thats a good confidence powerful movement to do, a leader will stick his/her neck out to show leadership and basically risking it all, but gave hope.
Winston Churchill was a memorable leader. He truly inspired many many people during the war
I’ve always heard great things about Winston Churchill!
I heard about Winston Churchill in movies and he was a very powerful man and was a great leader.
I believe that Winston Churchill was under appreciated! He was inspirational, and he had pure intentions.
Winston Churchill was a very great leader during this time, I truly believe that if he was not in charge of Great Britain at the time the coarse of the war would have changed drastically.
Iv’e never really heard about the winston churchill until now.
Winston Churchill is said to be one of the greatest generals of WWII.
What an awesome article. His words had to be inspiring and motivating to prove his leadership at the time. One of the all time best leaders ever.
Sometimes words are louder than actions. In this situation the words reinforced the great actions and resonated with the people, bringing them together in a time of desperation.
Churchill’s speech is still one that applies to people and our culture today.
Hats off to Winston Churchill!
Churchill was certainly one the great speakers in history
Churchill stood in between Hitler and his plans for Great Britain. Hitler was tying to take over.
Way to go Churchill!!
That is a great quote, one I have heard many times. Churchill always had a way with words.
I love this quote by Churchill, I am glad he stood up to Hitler.
Bombers do not get the credit they deserve. I knew a few old guys who were navigators on bombers.
Good when the right people are recognized.
Churchill defiantly made an impact with his words.
That’s what happen when you have great military men and women that give there lives to their country, never given up until the ultimate sacrifice.
The words of a great leader go a long way. Words alone can make the a scared soldier brave and a worried citizen confident in their leader.
I think that his speech became so relevant at this point in time because everyone was in a state of fear and had nobody to turn to. Churchill’s powerful words are what brought people through this rough time.
Those legendary men involved in RAF did something amazing. While Hitler was conquering almost everything that came in his way, RAF won the war against Hitler’s Nazi troops.
I truly think that in any war, there are people that go unrecognized by everyone. Unless you are out fighting with them, it is hard to tell what really goes on with the people who are out there fighting. Anyone who is fighting should get recognized because they are putting their life on the line.
Winston Churchill was a man who was rough around the edges, but had a way with words that inspired people and in a way carried his country throughout the war. This was just one of meany speeches that inspired the British people and rallied the troops, in this case the RAF who did amazing things in the war especially at the Battle of Britain were the RAF shot down at least twice as many germans than RAF pilots that were shot down.
Winston Churchill knew how to make soldiers feel courageous in such a difficult time with his words of wisdom.
I think it was great of Winston Churchhil to praise the soldiers like his did. Many of his speeches are still referenced today, especially in American politics.
I think it shows the people in general how to be appreciative and helps them see how much of an asset some of our service men are when we see head leaders speaking their praise. It was great that Churchill was able to be the example that the people needed.
Round of applause for Winston Churchill.!! Haha
Winston Churchill is one of my all-time favorite leaders. He had a way of speaking that could move mountains and raise armies.
The RAF saved England from being invaded by Hitler and the Nazis. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think we would’ve won the war.
I think the real reason behind the bombings were that Hitler thought he could bully England into surrendering but Hitler found the exact opposite. The British fought back with everything they had at their disposal. Churchhill was a great leader to the people of England who stood up against the greatest threat that this world has ever faced.
The RAF did a great service for England if it was not for them Hitler would have taken over. They were definitely a force if it was not for them the war could have ended very differently.
It is a good thing that Hitler and his army were unable to defeat the RAF and take over England. I would hate to think how different things would have been if it would have ended up differently.
The RAF absolutely saved Britain, and without them the tide of the war would likely have been much different. I am glad the women who contributed to this effort were also mentioned. Women’s contribution both at home and over seas was a big part of the war.
As others have mentioned, things could have been much worse had Hitler defeated England. It is amazing to see the recognition the RAF have seen for their efforts during a terrible time.
I had not heard of this quote from Churchhill before. Hitler thought he could just bully and conquer any country or area that he wanted during this time. The RAF had other ideas.
It was nice to hear about female contribution. Too often it seems to go unnoticed. As for the quote, I had a history teacher in middle school that had this permanently displayed in his classroom.
Winston Churchill is one of my favorite leaders to study. His quote to the RAF is inspiriting. I am glad he recognized the RAF for all its contributions in defending England from Hitler.
I also agree with others below who had stated it is a good thing Hitler could not defeat the RAF because if he would have imagine how different England would be today.
RAF is a force to be reckoned with and Churchill acknowledging this is monumental.
As others have mentioned, it’s nice to see the inclusion of women’s efforts in tracking the Germans’ planes. Having so frequently heard about the contributions made by American women during World War II, it would be great to learn more about what women in other countries were doing to help the war effort.
It’s always a wonderful moment when superiors recognize a job well done. This also applies to presidents and their troops.
Churchill was a spectacular leader. I liked studying him in school. The RAF was amazing!
This article raised a interesting question….. Had Churchill not stood up to Hitler, Im scared to think of there England would be today.
Churchill seemed like a very good leader, it is crazy to think what more awful things Hitler could have achieved without Churchill as a leader.
Awesome! It is always nice be be appreciated especially when your actions make a significant positive difference in the life of so many!
Winston Churchill seemed like he was a good politician made some good decision for his country and his people.
I remember learning about Winston Churchill in high school and I loved learning about him! He seemed to want to make good changes for his country.
Churchill was a genuinely good man and a very good orator.
Churchill was a greater person, because he disagreed with Hitler’s opinion to help the England
It is an interesting article by showing Churchill is nice guys in the past. Hitler as a leader was wining the fight in the past which was pretty great by showing he has enough ability to lead his army.
There are ways to accomplish good with good. People do not have to die in droves to prove a point.