In World War II, Winston Churchill emerged as the leader of England, to resist the German domination of Europe, and he became the driving force behind the eventual Allied victory. At first, until 1941, Britain fought alone. Churchill's task was to inspire resistance at all costs, to organize the defense of the island, and to make it the staging point for an eventual return to Europe, whose liberation from Nazi tyranny he never doubted. He gave his nation resolve; upon becoming prime minister he told parliament: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory." Here is the final paragraph from Winston Churchill's speech to the House of Commons in June, 1940. "I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government - every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old." According to George G. Blackburn in his book "Where the Hell are the Guns" (McClelland & Stewart 1997), this speech, which was also broadcast over the BBC, was actually read by BBC actor Norman Shelley, who imitated Churchill's voice so exactly that no-one ever suspected that the Prime Minister, who was 'involved with other matters', hadn't actually delivered it himself! Powerful Words