The Darkest Hour facts for kids
The Darkest Hour is a special name for a very tough time during World War II. It lasted for about a year, from mid-1940 to mid-1941. During this period, many people felt worried about the future of the war. Even though many people think Winston Churchill created this phrase, its exact origins are not fully clear.
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The Meaning of 'The Darkest Hour'
The phrase "the darkest hour" comes from an old saying: "The darkest hour is just before the dawn." This means that even in the toughest times, things will eventually get better. People used this phrase to describe the very difficult period of World War II.
Many people believe that Winston Churchill, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, made this phrase popular. He did use similar words during this time. For example, in June 1940, he called the fall of France "the darkest hour in French history."
Later, after the war, Churchill described the time around 1940-1941 as "the darkest hours." However, many other people were also using this phrase at the same time. It was a common way to talk about how serious the situation was.
World War II: A Tough Time for the Allies
Britain Stands Alone
In June 1940, France was defeated by Germany. This event is known as the Fall of France. The British Army had to quickly leave France from a place called Dunkirk. After this, the British Empire was the only major power in Europe still fighting against the Axis Powers (Germany and Italy).
For much of 1940, the United Kingdom faced a serious threat. Germany planned to invade Britain in an operation called Operation Sea Lion. However, Britain won the Battle of Britain, which was a huge air battle. This victory helped prevent the invasion.
Other Countries Fighting the Axis
While Britain was fighting Germany and Italy, other countries were also fighting the Axis powers. China had been fighting Imperial Japan since 1937. Japan had launched a full-scale invasion of China in what is known as the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Greece also fought bravely against the Axis powers. From October 1940, Greece fought against Italian troops and even defeated them. Later, in June 1941, the island of Crete surrendered to the Germans after a fierce battle. Both Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle praised Greece for its amazing courage during this difficult time.
How the United States Helped
The United States did not officially join World War II until December 1941. This was after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. However, the US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, felt great sympathy for Britain and other countries fighting Germany.
President Roosevelt wanted to help them quietly. At first, US law required the country to be neutral. Many people in the US also wanted to stay out of the war. But Roosevelt found ways to help.
One way was through a "cash-and-carry" rule. This rule allowed countries fighting the war to buy weapons from the US. But they had to pay for them right away with cash and arrange their own transport. This rule was put into the Neutrality Act of 1939. Roosevelt believed this would help Britain and France because they controlled the seas and could pick up the goods.
Later, in March 1941, the US officially dropped its neutral stance. They passed the Lend-Lease Act. This act allowed the US to openly sell or lend weapons and supplies to Britain, Free France, China, and later, the Soviet Union and other Allied countries. This was a huge help to the Allies during "The Darkest Hour."
'The Darkest Hour' in Movies
The phrase "The Darkest Hour" was also used as the title for a 2017 movie. The film, called Darkest Hour, starred Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. It showed the events of May 1940, a key part of this difficult period.
