Churchill on war

Here are some of Churchill’s guidelines on how to fight a war. I got these from reading his account of the Second World War:

• “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” To trick your enemy, cover the truth with lies.
• Always keep your enemy guessing about where you will strike next. This forces him to spread out his forces. Sea power gives you this advantage.
• If you can strike at more than one point, then pick just one point and apply all your force there. This is something Hitler failed to do in 1944 when he fought to the last in Russia, Italy and France. This divided his strength and made him easier to defeat.
• The element of surprise works: hit your enemy at a place and time he does not expect. Feed him false intelligence about more likely places and times.
• War is about killing your enemies: the more the better.
• Give your enemy no rest.
• If you are outgunned, then kick as much sand in your enemy’s face as possible. Never never let him off easy.
• Tie down and drain your enemy, as much of his men and supplies as possible.
• Cut off your enemy’s lines of communications (supply lines). Or at least draw him into lengthening them.
• Turn the flank.
• Always keep a reserve of forces that can quickly move to any part of the front: never put everything you have on the front. France made this mistake in 1940. Hitler failed to take notes and repeated it in 1944.
• Those who make decisions must bear their consequences. No armchair generals, no decision-makers who do nothing but debate.
• In time of war, he who rules the country must also direct the war. If power is split between two people, then they will constantly be at odds and no one mind will hold all the necessary facts.
• Seize on what chances come your way. In war the future is far too uncertain to wait for something better – it may never come.
• Do not wait for set-piece battles.
• Always think out what you will do, in battle and in war, but know that none of it may ever come to pass.
• Victory in battle cannot be overrated. Much will be forgiven those who win.
• What matters in warships: range and size of its guns, speed, ports of repair, when it can be seen (smoke, mist) and how much it can carry.
• What matters in shipping: throughput.
• Pack ships backwards: last in, first out.

Churchill thoroughly understood the nature and use of sea power and especially the military nature of islands.

Churchill only half understood air power. For example, he thought the Japanese could still have taken Midway even after losing four aircraft carriers. He also spent much of Britain’s precious air power on terror bombing of German cities instead of destroying the German army.

See also:

• Churchill
• Hitler
• Britain
• France