Xx-xx-xx11The Fall Of France-Part3

of the Japanese surrender aboard the United States battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The most terrible period of death and destruction in the long history of man. World War II, a drama preserve for all time through the medium of radio, an era never to be forgotten.

It is the morning of May 7, 1940. In the House of Commons in London, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain is making his opening remarks in a debate that will decide the fate of his government.

One month earlier British troops were out-generaled and out-maneuvered when Germany made a surprise and successful invasion of Scandinavia. The Nazis invaded Denmark and Norway. A token expeditionary force was sent by Britain to Norway. They were defeated.

Back in the home island, the Chamberlain government was set upon by friend and foe alike for their conduct of the war. Chamberlain tries to explain the failure of the Norwegian campaign. To his aid comes the first lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill.

Says Churchill, I take complete responsibility for everything that has been done by the Admiralty, and I take my share of the burden. When he finishes, the floor is taken by David Lloyd George, Great Britain's World War I leader, and long-time enemy of Chamberlain.

Lord George, I do not think the first Lord was entirely responsible for all the things that happened in Norway. Then he faced Chamberlain and said, you ask for the nation to perform sacrifice. I say solemnly that the Prime Minister would give an example of sacrifice by giving up his seals of office. A brief recapitulation of the events leading up to the debate,

Just five days before the German attack on Norway and Denmark, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made a widely publicized address. On April 5th, Chamberlain said, After seven months of war, I feel ten times as confident as I did in the beginning.