History Extra podcast Churchill's prewar crisis meetings
10 snips
Sep 24, 2024 
Katherine Carter, an author and expert on Churchill's Citadel, discusses the fascinating transformation of Chartwell into a wartime hub. Insights are shared on how Winston Churchill hosted luminaries like Albert Einstein and T.E. Lawrence for crucial discussions. Their conversations helped shape his views on the looming war. Explore the intimate dynamics of dinner table diplomacy and how these influential visits informed Churchill's strategies amid rising tensions with Nazi Germany.
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Missed Dinner With Hitler
- Winston Churchill almost dined with Adolf Hitler in 1932 but Hitler stood him up because he was tired and unprepared.
- Churchill never knew how close he came to meeting Hitler that night, revealing an incredible alternate history moment.
Chartwell's Dinner Diplomacy
- Churchill meticulously designed Chartwell's dining room to make guests comfortable and equal around a small round table.
- He aimed to create the perfect setting for honest discussions, known as dinner table diplomacy.
Einstein's Early Warning
- Albert Einstein visited Chartwell in 1933 to warn Churchill about Nazism's persecution of Jews and its war mentality.
- This meeting confirmed Churchill's early view that Germany was preparing for conflict.