School of War Ep 142: Andrew Roberts Debunks Darryl Cooper on Winston Churchill
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Sep 10, 2024 
Andrew Roberts, a renowned Churchill biographer, joins the conversation to challenge Darryl Cooper's controversial views on Winston Churchill. They explore the debates around Churchill's legacy during WWII, discussing whether he deserves to be seen as a villain. Roberts highlights the misconceptions about American involvement and Operation Barbarossa, emphasizing that Hitler, not Churchill, is the primary antagonist. The discussion also delves into the moral complexities of wartime decisions and the importance of understanding historical nuance.
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Historical Churchill Criticism Divides
- Churchill faced criticism from both left and right over the years after his death, with leftists focusing on imperialism and racism claims.
- Right-wing critics historically preferred Britain staying out of WWII and letting Hitler and Stalin fight it out.
Churchill and America in WWII
- The argument that Churchill dragged America into WWII is a repeated but flawed claim.
- Britain could not have made peace after Dunkirk without allowing Hitler to fully defeat the USSR, undermining strategic interests.
Nazis Planned Barbarossa Brutally
- The Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union was a premeditated attack, not a defensive reaction.
- The mass deaths of Soviet POWs were intentional, showing Nazi disregard for Slavic lives.