Churchill, a memory at war

When he died in 1965, Winston Churchill was universally celebrated as Britain's saviour. Today, his statue is the target of vandalism. This deterioration in his image can be explained by several historiographical turning points.

Is it conceivable that one man could bring an entire city to a standstill? But that's exactly what happened on January 30, 1965, the day of Winston Churchill's funeral. Intended as an opportunity to strengthen national unity and affirm England's greatness despite the loss of its colonies, it took on the air of a posthumous coronation. The nation was less saluting a former Prime Minister than a savior.

Television, the press and Martin Gilbert's official biography all contributed to the establishment of a narrative that was easy to accept: Churchill had resisted in 1940 when all else was giving way, he had