Why did Churchill's wife talk about the Soviet Red Cross all the time. Churchill's last daughter dies Churchill's return to the Admiralty

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is still considered one of the leading politicians of the 20th century. But it is not in vain that the British say that the success of a man is three-quarters of the merit of his wife. And in general, Clementine Churchill is worth remembering about her.

Clementine Hozier was born on April 1, 1885 in the family of a retired colonel G.M. Hozier and Lady B.G. Ogilvie. We can say that the future spouses were brought together by chance. The first time they saw each other at the ball, but did not pay attention to each other. At that time, Clementine was 19 years old, and Winston was already an adult man prone to baldness - of course, not every girl could quickly become interested in him. The second meeting took place four years later. During a meal with mutual friends, W. Churchill and Clementine were seated side by side. But she could not get into this house at all - she was invited at the last moment, because one lady was missing, there were 13 guests, and this violated the decorum that is reverently observed in English secular society.

Churchill at that time already held a serious post in the government and managed to attract the attention of a young lady. In general, quite successful in his career, Winston Churchill was not popular with the ladies. He did not know how to communicate with them at ease, awkwardly courted, did not indulge representatives of the opposite sex with signs of attention, did not master the art of dancing - in general, he was a very mediocre gentleman. And although he tried to arrange his personal life, he did not succeed. But Clementine not only sincerely fell in love with Winston, but also managed to discern his virtues. At the same time, she was not blinded by feelings, but perfectly saw all the flaws of her chosen one.

Their romance developed more through correspondence. At some point, Clementine already thought that W. Churchill would never ask her hand and heart. And when he nevertheless proposed to her, she immediately agreed to the marriage. Their wedding took place on September 12, 1908. There were fifteen thousand guests. The ceremony was magnificent and open, as is customary in an aristocratic environment. A large crowd gathered to admire the newlyweds. But then no one could have predicted that this union would become one of the most durable (it lasted 57 years) and very happy. Love, fidelity, devotion, understanding and care - that's what distinguished him. But many acquaintances considered Churchill completely uncreated for family life. But later, the biographers of the famous politician admitted that he was extremely lucky with his wife.

Such a case is also indicative. In the mid 1950s. in the Churchill house, in a friendly company, they started the game "Who would you like to be if you had not become who you are?". The guests competed in wit and fantasized with might and main. But Winston won the unspoken victory when he said: "If I did not become who I am, I would gladly become ... the second husband of Mrs. Churchill."

The couple corresponded all their lives - they had little personal communication and had to constantly maintain close contact. Here are a few lines from Sir Churchill's messages to his wife: "My dear, in all the years that we have been together, many times I have caught myself thinking that I love you too much, so much that it seems impossible to love more." And further: "I will always be indebted to you. You gave me an unearthly pleasure from life. And if love exists, then know that we have it the most real."

But the couple's relationship was still not cloudless. And Clementine was the exact opposite of her husband.

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He is an owl, she is a lark. He is not very outwardly attractive, plump, heavy, prone to gluttony, addicted to alcohol and gambling. She is tall, slender, beautiful green-eyed brown-haired, always tastefully and elegantly dressed.

He is capricious, unpredictable, ambitious, ambitious, domineering to the point of despotism, capricious, a spendthrift with lordly manners, uncompromising, stubborn and busy more with politics than with his family. She is restrained, unspoiled, patient, thrifty, independent and active. And at the same time, persistent, purposeful, strong-willed Mrs. Churchill had strong moral principles and her own views. She had a sharp mind and a subtle sense of humor in English and spoke several foreign languages.

They say that with her virtues, Mrs. Churchill softened and leveled the shortcomings of her husband and positively influenced him. She was for Winston true friend, a wise companion and a good adviser. Clementine told her husband the truth to her face, no matter how bitter she was, for example, that he knew nothing about the lives of ordinary people.

There were ups and downs in the political career of W. Churchill. He managed to visit many posts, but became famous as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and gained popularity among the people, showing himself to be a bold and enterprising leader after the entry of Great Britain into the Second World War. When Germany attacked the USSR, W. Churchill declared that Hitler was the common enemy of Great Britain and the USSR and promised support for the Soviet state.

But the Prime Minister was in no hurry to open a second front. And when he told his wife that it would take a long time to wait for this event, she wondered how she herself and - most importantly - could immediately help Soviet Union. After all, she received letters from many English women who asked her to persuade her husband to send troops in support of the Red Army and were ready to send their beloved men - husbands, sons, brothers - to help the country desperately fighting the invaders. And then Clementine, independent by nature, created and headed the "Red Cross Fund for Aid to Russia" and herself made the first contribution to it. Then this initiative was picked up by members of her husband's government and also contributed their personal funds.

In September 1941, Mrs. Churchill appealed to her compatriots to support the USSR. She was so convincing that fellow citizens began to actively promote her. Initially, Mrs. Churchill planned to raise 1 million pounds, but 8 million was raised very quickly. And the money kept coming in. They bought everything you needed: equipment for hospitals, medicines, prostheses, clothes, food. We can say that this lady had her own front - she fought for the recovery of wounded Soviet soldiers.

In the spring of 1945, Clementine Churchill paid a visit to the USSR. She wanted to see with her own eyes where the aid she collected went, and to get to know better those who for several years in a row selflessly resisted fascism and whom she admired so much. She visited several cities (Leningrad, Stalingrad, Odessa, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk and others), visited many hospitals, where she talked with the wounded, and spent a month and a half in the USSR. In Rostov-on-Don, K. Churchill is still remembered, because thanks to the equipment and supplies she sent, two hospitals were equipped. And the beds, which are called "Churchellikhins", were used until recently - their quality turned out to be so high. A commemorative plaque hangs on one of the buildings of the Central City Hospital No. 1, on which the following inscription is carved: "Clementine Churchill, the founder of the Russian Relief Fund, was here in April 1945." beds".

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Those who met Madame Churchill said that it was difficult to recognize a foreigner in her - she behaved so simply and was so modestly dressed. Although at the same time the host side tried in every possible way to ensure the comfort of the guest, and even special chefs and pastry chefs were assigned to her, who accompanied her on a trip around the country. Mrs. Clementina also visited the house-museum of A.P. Chekhov in Yalta, where she left an entry in the book of honored guests. And thanks to this, we can learn that this wonderful lady considered the Russian writer a genius.

On May 9, K. Churchill met the victory in Moscow and on the same day spoke on the radio, reading out an open message from W. Churchill to I. Stalin. And then on May 11 she herself wrote a letter to the leader of the Land of Soviets, in which she wrote that she was happy to be in the days of Victory in the USSR. And Clementine Churchill was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for her great services to the Soviet state and society and her activities to help our country. Upon her return to her homeland, the wife of the British Prime Minister wrote the book "My Visit to Russia". And, according to experts, she did not sin against the truth in anything.

The Churchills had five children - one son and four daughters. And it is difficult to say what more they brought to parents - joy or grief.

Baby Marigold died at the age of three from meningitis.

The eldest daughter Diana did not get along with her mother. She was fond of art, but did not achieve success in this field. When she got married, she gave birth to three children. But her marriage fell apart. And then depression, psychiatric hospitals and suicide followed.

Wayward Sarah - real beauty- dreamed about theater career, but her "star" plans were not destined to come true. Three marriages also did not live up to bright hopes. The woman was looking for consolation in alcohol. And although she outlived her parents and went into another world at the age of 68, she lived out her days in complete solitude.

Son Randolph also did not become the pride of the family. And, according to historians, from childhood he had a bad temper, was spoiled, arrogant, uncontrollable and did not really try to make an effort to achieve something. He served in the army, was engaged in diplomacy, politics, journalism. But not only to surpass, even to equal his father was beyond his power. It is said that, in the end, the father even broke off relations with him. What Clementine thought about this is hard to say. In a decent society, it was not customary to "wash dirty linen in public" and publicly complain about family troubles. And even after the death of her son, the mother continued to remain silent.

Parents.

But he continued political activity and gave rise to cold war", delivering the so-called Fulton speech on March 5, 1946. However, health increasingly failed the stubborn W. Churchill. And, finally, in April 1955 he left the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain, and in July 1964 last time attended a meeting of the House of Commons. He died on January 24, 1965. Left alone, Clementine in every possible way cherished the memory of her husband and unusually missed him. Mrs Churchill survived her husband by 12 years. She passed away on December 12, 1977 at the age of 92.

Clementine Churchill.

Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill, Baroness Spencer Churchill . Dame Grand Cross of the Order british empire.

She was born April 1, 1885. Officially the daughter of retired Colonel Henry Montagu Hozier and Lady Blanche Henrietta Ogilvie, however, there are options regarding paternity. Clementine met Winston Churchill in 1904.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill political figure, Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1940-1945 and 1951-1955; military (colonel), journalist, writer, honorary member of the British Academy (1952), Nobel Prize in Literature (1953).

Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace, the family estate of the Dukes of Marlborough, a branch of the Spencer family.

Churchill's father, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, was a well-known politician, member of the House of Commons from the Conservative Party, served as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mother - Lady Randolph Churchill, nee Jennie Jerome (Eng. Jennie Jerome), was the daughter of a wealthy American businessman.

There was, perhaps, no politician in the foreign history of the twentieth century more popular and more weighty than Winston Spencer Churchill. From the family of the Dukes of Marlborough, a participant in the Anglo-Boer and World War II, he did a lot and did a lot, and not only for Great Britain. Volumes have been written about him, and he himself told a lot about himself.

But today it is not about him, or rather not only about him. I was interested in the woman who had been with him for fifty-seven years. This is his wife Clementine Churchill, née Heuser, from the noble Scottish family of Airlie.

She was born on April 1, 1885 and was 11 years younger than Winston. Clementine was fluent in German and French, had a sharp mind and a subtle sense of humor, and was interested in politics. The family was not rich, and Clementine gave French lessons. But at 23, the girl was also picky, she ruined three engagements.

And Churchill at this time, already a little settled down, apparently decided that it was time to get married. But Winston was one of those people whose shortcomings were immediately visible, and whose virtues were discovered a little later. And although life experience he was already rich, with women Winston was a bear a bear: no beautiful courtship for you, no compliments for you.

He was above all a warrior, and too straightforward to be considered a gentleman. And over the past two years, he has already received three rejections. In addition, the brides understood that the main woman for the applicant would be Her Majesty Politics.

Let's not stir up the past of those unfortunates who could not discern such a wonderful party in the wayward and conceited gentleman.

Yes, and once again Churchill almost blundered, almost replaced Clementine for a bath. The fact is that he was invited to an appointment with a lady who ten years ago helped the young lieutenant join the Sudanese expedition. Thanks to the fact that the secretary shamed his boss, Winston got an appointment with Lady St. Helier, who turned out to be Clementine's aunt.

The niece, they write, also did not want to attend the reception, since she did not have fashionable dress. But the sky ordered - and they met! This happened in March 1908. It turns out that fate had already brought them together four years ago at the same ball, but since Churchill did not yet know how to dance, the agile gentleman took the beauty away from him.

Clementine and Winston shortly before their wedding in 1908

Already in August of the same year, he proposed to Clementine. The groom for that time was very extravagant and peculiar, and therefore Clementine again almost refused! But still, on August 15, 1908, Deputy Minister Churchill announced his wedding.

High society issued a summary: this marriage will last six months, no more, and the marriage will fall apart because Churchill was not created for family life.

But it turned out differently: they lived 57 years in love and fidelity!

Roy Jenkins wrote: "It is simply phenomenal that Winston and Clementine - these offspring of windy ladies - created one of the most famous marriage unions in world history, known both for their happiness and their fidelity."

Churchill's biographers write that he was often lucky, but most of all he was lucky with his wife!

And began family life. What he just didn’t get up to: wrote books, learned to fly a plane, spent nights away in a casino, losing and winning back fortunes, led political life country, drank an exorbitant amount of whiskey, smoked Havana cigars endlessly, devoured kilogram dishes!

But Clementine did not try to curb her husband, correct his shortcomings and remake his character, as a less intelligent woman would try to do. She accepted him for who he was.

An uncompromising and stubborn politician near his wife became a meek youth. And she became his colleague, the first adviser and true friend. She was not easy with him, but she was never bored.

Churchill talked a lot, never listening or even hearing anyone. She found a wonderful way to communicate with him. The wife wrote letters to her husband. A total of 1,700 letters and postcards were written. And their youngest daughter Marie then published these lines of love.

I must also say that the wife was a lark, and her husband was an owl. This is partly why they never had breakfast together. Churchill once said that having breakfast together is a test that no one can withstand. family union. They rested most often apart: she loved the tropics, and he preferred extreme sports.

One gets the impression that a wise wife did not flicker before her husband's eyes, did not reshape him in her own way, but was always there when he wanted it.

And in the house, in fairness, it must be said, very often his call was heard: “Clemmy!” By the way, they also slept in different bedrooms.

Once, speaking to Oxford students, Clementine said: “Never force husbands to agree with you. You will achieve more by continuing to calmly adhere to your beliefs, and after a while you will see how your spouse will quietly come to the conclusion that you are right.

They plunged into crises, became poor and became rich again, but their union was never questioned, and their spiritual closeness only grew stronger over the years.

In September 1941, Clementine appealed to the British to support the USSR:

“We are amazed at the power of Russian resistance!” From 1941 to 1946, she, as president of the Red Cross Fund for Aid to Russia, made the first contribution, and then members of her husband's government did so.

At first, the Russian Relief Fund planned to raise 1 million, but managed to raise many times more: about 8 million pounds. No “non-liquid” or second-hand, everything is only of high quality and the most necessary: ​​equipment for hospitals, food, clothes, prostheses for the disabled.

Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs. Clementine Churchill in Quebec, Canada 1944

In March 1945, at the invitation of the Soviet Red Cross, Clementine Churchill came to the USSR and visited Leningrad, Stalingrad, Rostov-on-Don, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Odessa, Yalta and other cities. Victory was approaching, and in the last days of the war, Mrs. Churchill left the Crimea via Odessa for Moscow.

Memorial plaque in Rostov-on-Don

On April 6, Stalin received her in the Kremlin, presenting her with a gold ring with a diamond as a token of gratitude on behalf of the leadership of the USSR. On May 7, Churchill was solemnly awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor - for "outstanding services in carrying out social events to raise funds in England to help the Red Army.

It was in Moscow that Mrs. Churchill celebrated Victory Day. They write that Clementine Churchill spoke on the Moscow radio on May 9 with an open message from Winston Churchill to Stalin.

Having met Victory Day in Moscow, Clementine spoke on Moscow radio with an open message from Winston Churchill.

Of course, for such an active woman, our order was not the only award. She was a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, and of the British Royal Order of Saint John.

Clementine Churchill (left) with all orders, next to her daughter Mary

Until now, historians are perplexed why Clementine was in the Soviet Union for so long. After the war, Winston Churchill published a six-volume work on World War II, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953.

I admit that Churchill, in order not to sin against the truth, instructed his wife to look at the consequences of the war with her own eyes, for Winston trusted no one in his life more than her. She, of course, did not collect facts: others did, but her opinion for the prime minister was always decisive.

The Churchills had five children - one son and four daughters. And it is difficult to say what more they brought to parents - joy or grief.

Baby Marigold died at the age of three from meningitis.

The eldest daughter Diana did not get along with her mother. She was fond of art, but did not achieve success in this field. When she got married, she gave birth to three children. But her marriage fell apart. And then depression, psychiatric hospitals and suicide followed.

Wayward Sarah - a real beauty - dreamed of a theatrical career, but her "star" plans were not destined to come true. Three marriages also did not live up to bright hopes. The woman was looking for consolation in alcohol. And although she outlived her parents and went into another world at the age of 68, she lived out her days in complete solitude.

Son Randolph also did not become the pride of the family. And, according to historians, from childhood he had a bad temper, was spoiled, arrogant, uncontrollable and did not really try to make an effort to achieve something. He served in the army, was engaged in diplomacy, politics, journalism. But not only to surpass, even to equal his father was beyond his power. It is said that, in the end, the father even broke off relations with him. What Clementine thought about this is hard to say. In a decent society, it was not customary to "wash dirty linen in public" and publicly complain about family troubles. And even after the death of her son, the mother continued to remain silent.

The most fortunate and womanly happy was Mary, Clementine's favorite. She gave her parents five grandchildren, and her life turned out to be eventful and prosperous.

After her mother left, she wrote a biographical book about her and published touching correspondence from her parents.

At the Yalta Conference, along with Roosevelt and Stalin.

After the end of World War II, Clementine advised her husband to retire and thus remain on top of fame.

But he continued his political activities and gave rise to the Cold War, delivering the so-called Fulton speech on March 5, 1946. However, health increasingly failed the stubborn W. Churchill.

And finally, in April 1955, he left the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain, and in July 1964 he visited the House of Commons for the last time.

The plan for his burial, code-named "Hope not", was developed over many years. Queen Elizabeth II and Buckingham Palace officials took over the organization of the funeral and gave orders, coordinating their actions with Downing Street and consulting with Winston Churchill's family. It was decided to organize a state funeral. This honor in the history of Great Britain before Churchill was awarded only ten prominent people, who were not members of the royal family, among whom were the physicist Isaac Newton, Admiral Nelson, Duke of Wellington, politician Gladstone.

Churchill's funeral was the largest state funeral in British history.

In 1965, a monument to Churchill by Reynolds Stone was erected in Westminster Abbey.

After her husband's death, Clementine became a member of the House of Lords and a life peer as Baroness Spencer-Churchill-Chartwell.

Clementine in every possible way cherished the memory of her husband and unusually missed him.

Mrs Churchill survived her husband by 12 years.

This amazing woman died on December 12, 1977, having lived for 92 years.

women in the war 1939-1945

Auxiliary Territorial Service: The wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs Clementine Churchill, inspects members of the ATS at the Royal Ordnance Experimental Unit, Shoburyness, Essex.

Lady Clementine Churchill is the devoted and loving life partner of Sir Winston Churchill, the greatest politician in the West, who wrote in his biography: “My marriage was the happiest and most joyful event of my entire life” 1 . Undoubtedly, it is difficult to be the wife of a great politician living in a whirlwind public life and political struggle. But whatever Mrs. Churchill did, her husband, his interests and career were her meaning. The constant care and attention of Clementine helped one of the most outstanding personalities of the twentieth century to endure all the difficulties and ups and downs of her political career.

September 1, 1939 began the Second World War, and two days later France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. In 1940, Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain. He speaks in the House of Commons with a speech full of drama: “I can offer you nothing but blood, hardships and tears. What is our goal, you ask? I will answer in one word - victory<…>Without her, we cannot survive, and, frankly, without her, there will be no British Empire and all that it represents. If we don't win, we'll have to say goodbye to our way of life<…>I have now been given the right to demand help from all of you, and I say to you: come all of you and together we will go to victory.

The whole family of the Prime Minister at this time demonstrates extraordinary stamina and fortitude. Son Randolph in the rank of major was on the actual military service in the Middle East, daughter Sarah served in the Women's Auxiliary Aviation Corps, daughter Mary in the rank junior officer was at the end of the war, along with its anti-aircraft batteries in Western Europe 3 .

An ardent supporter of Winston Churchill, Clementine heads the Young Women's Christian Association's War Trust, which provides hostels, canteens, rest homes and other facilities for women soldiers and workers in war factories away from home. She makes numerous trips to hostels and factories, areas subjected to fascist bombardment. Mrs. Churchill also leads a society organized by the wives of junior commanders. Working in this organization, she pays a lot of attention to caring for the wives and families of front-line soldiers.

On the streets of London destroyed by the bombing, one could meet Churchill, accompanied by his wife, they talked with people, visited the wounded, tried to help children and the lonely.

On June 22, 1941, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. Long roads our country went to victory. Among those who wanted to help the suffering population of the USSR was Great Britain.

Already in July 1941, the National Anglo-Soviet Fund was organized medical care(which included, among others, the writer D. Priestley, the leader of the liberal party D. Lloyd George, the famous sculptor Jacob Epstein) and the Anglo-Soviet Friendship Committee. In September and October, the Anglo-Soviet Women's Committee (with the participation of the writer Cecil Chesterton) and the Fund for the Relief of the Plight of Women and Children of Soviet Russia were created, headed by Countess Attolskaya and with the active participation of Lord Horder, famous doctor. At the end of 1941, the Five Arts Foundation appeared, collecting gifts for the Red Army. became president of the foundation famous actress Sybil Thorndike, and among the activists there were such famous people like Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Margot Fontaine and others 4 .

Undoubtedly the most important and largest organization in England during the war was the Russian Relief Fund, set up in October 1941 and headed by Mrs. Churchill. It was often referred to colloquially as "Mrs. Churchill's Fund".

About the reasons that prompted Mrs. Churchill to head this particular fund, I.M. wrote in his memoirs. Maisky, Soviet Ambassador to Great Britain from 1932 to 1943.

I was terribly worried, - she said (K. Churchill - Auth.), - that great drama that played out in your country immediately after Hitler's attack. I kept thinking how we could help you. At that time the question of a second front was being widely discussed in England. One day I received a letter from a group of women whose husbands and sons were serving in English army. They insisted on opening a second front. I then thought: “If these women demand a second front, that is, they are ready to risk the lives of their loved ones, then we must immediately help Russia.” I showed the letter I received to my husband. He replied that the second front was still very far away. This alarmed me greatly, and I began to think that such a thing could be done now, immediately, to help your country? Then the idea of ​​the Red Cross fund came to my mind” 5 .

Mrs. Churchill's idea of ​​a "Russian Relief Fund" met with the liveliest sympathy of her husband and quickly became a reality. The entire administrative and propaganda apparatus of the government was immediately placed at her service. In the first two years of the war alone, this fund raised about two and a half million pounds.

Further I.M. Maisky wrote: “... there is no doubt that Mrs. Churchill was sincerely passionate about the work of her foundation and did everything she could to help the Soviet Union. Under the date March 16, 1942, I find the following entry: “Churchill spoke with admiration of the Red Army and noted the enormous growth in the sympathies and prestige of the USSR in England. With a laugh, he added:

What has it come to! My own wife is completely Sovietised... She only talks about the Soviet Red Cross, the Red Army...

And then, with a sly spark in his eyes, Churchill said:

Can't you choose her in any of your tips? Really, she deserves."

Yes, Lady Churchill deserves a great deal of credit for her work in helping the Soviet Union. The sums collected by her fund by April 1945 amounted to 6 million 700 thousand pounds sterling. 42 consignments of medical equipment and medicines were sent to the USSR 7 .

On April 2, 1945, at the invitation of the Soviet government and the Executive Committee of the SOCC and the Communist Party of the USSR, she arrived in Moscow. Speaking to the crowd at the airport, Clementine Churchill said: “This is one of the most inspiring and moving moments of my life. I have long wanted to visit your great country, because for long years war, I, my compatriots and compatriots followed with admiration, respect, awe, surprise and love the great efforts of your wonderful army and all your men and women.

A few days later, Clementine Churchill was invited to a meeting of the Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the USSR. The meeting was also attended by the representative of the SOCC and the CP of the USSR in London, Professor S.A. Sarkisov, Head of the Main Sanitary Directorate Soviet army E.I. Smirnov, chief surgeon of the Army. N.N. Burdenko and others. Expressing gratitude, Chairman of the Soviet Red Cross S.A. Kolesnikov presented Mrs. Churchill for her active work in helping the Soviet Red Cross with the gold badge "Excellence in Sanitary Defense" 9 .

Lady Churchill spent more than a month in the Soviet Union, visited Leningrad, was in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, Kursk and other cities. She got acquainted with the work of medical, children's and cultural institutions with great interest and attention. In Stalingrad and Rostov-on-Don, she saw hospitals equipped at the expense of the British people.

Mrs. Churchill was personally received by the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR I.V. Stalin. Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR N.M. Shvernik presented her with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor 10 . The Decree stated: “For outstanding services in holding public events to raise funds in England to assist the Red Army, to award the Chairman of the Committee of the “Russian Aid Fund” Clementine Churchill with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor” 11.

After the death of Lord Churchill, Clementine becomes a member of the House of Lords and a life peer as Baroness Spencer-Churchill of Chartwell 12 . Lady Churchill passed away in 1977, outliving her husband by twelve years.

1. British ally. 1945. April 1st. No. 13.
2. Winston Churchill / Translated from French. - M, 1999. p. 72.
3. British ally. 1945. April 1st. No. 13.
4. Maisky I.M. Memoirs of a Soviet diplomat. 1925-1945 - M., 1971. p. 655.
5. Ibid. With. 656.
6. Ibid. With. 657.
7. British ally. 1945. April 8th. No. 14.
8. News. 1945. April 3.
9. Red Star. 1945. April 7th.
10. Pravda.1945. 9th May.
11. Moscow Bolshevik. 1945. April 13.
12. Winston Churchill / Translated from French. - M., 1999. p. 108.

Natalia TERNOVA, historian

No one believed that Winston Churchill would ever marry. Nobody believed that Clementine Hozier would agree to become his wife. But everything in the life of the great British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine happened completely differently than most of their circle saw.

The future great English politician Winston Churchill was born at a secular ball. His mother, a secular beauty, even being on demolitions, decided to have fun. When she went into premature labor, she only had time to run to the room where the outerwear of the guests was piled high. On this pile of coats, in November 1874, a newborn seven-month-old boy saw the light: red, terribly ugly, with a flattened bulldog nose. In appearance - a typical Duke of Marlborough (his father belonged to this ancient and noble family).

Randolph Churchill, the father of the one who many years later, according to polls, was named the most prominent Briton, remarked that his son, apart from an excellent memory and interest in history, had no special abilities for anything. Ultimately, Winston was sent to study at a cavalry school.

born military

A military career was given to him quite easily: he was brave, prudent and smart. But Churchill quickly got bored with the officer's path. And he chose military journalism for himself. And he has been very successful in this field. His book "War on the River", which tells about the conquest of Sudan, became a bestseller.

And then Churchill became interested in politics. And I realized: this is his true calling. In 1908, he took the rather modest and low-paid post of Minister of Commerce. But the Cabinet member's ambitions stretched much further. All in all, his career took off.

But personal life did not get better. There were various assumptions about this. Some said: Winston, accustomed to a single life, is not adapted to family life. Others suggested that he was too clumsy in dealing with women. Still others thought: Churchill simply does not need a family and wants to die a bachelor.

In fact, the brave warrior was simply insanely afraid of women. He couldn't dance. He didn't know how to flirt. And he considered himself outwardly very unattractive.

About Clementine Hozier in the world held directly a different opinion. Many considered her beautiful girl in the world. Her profile was considered the most beautiful in Britain. Clemmie was not of the same high birth as Winston, but good manners and aristocracy she was not to occupy. Graceful, restrained, educated - she, despite the fact that she belonged to a practically ruined family, was considered one of the most enviable brides. But, nevertheless, Clemmie refused several suitors.

Clementine's mother was friendly with Churchill's mother, a well-known socialite. So the young people met at one of the receptions back in 1904. And what? But nothing: nineteen-year-old Clementine, in her opinion, made absolutely no impression on Winston. During the conversation, he did not say a couple of phrases to her. Miss Hozier was wrong: the young politician was simply speechless from her beauty...

Another four years have passed. And they met again. By this point, the clumsy Churchill, despite the ridicule of his friends, had made a firm decision to marry. And ... received several refusals. Neither his post nor his high birth could make a proper impression on potential brides.

Victory Name - Clementine

In the case of Clementine, he decided to go to the bitter end. Although this decision did not give Winston gallantry. And, nevertheless, Miss Hozier for some reason was imbued with sympathy for the timid gentleman. Why? Most likely, a smart girl managed to discern in him what the whole world later noticed. She realized that his straightforwardness speaks of courage. His lack of gallantry speaks of his seriousness and lack of the habit of dragging behind every skirt. And short temper does not speak of anger, but of a choleric temperament.

During the rain, Winston and Clementine hid in the gazebo. On that day, the girl made a wish: if he does not propose to her, then she will stop all relations with Churchill. He made an offer.

Their wedding in September 1908 was one of the most high-profile events. Secular rakes made bets on how long this marriage would last. The terms were from six months to a year. Clementine and Churchill were married for fifty-seven years. full world and consent.

During parting, they exchanged letters. There are about two thousand messages that the Churchill spouses wrote to each other.

“My dear, my tender kitty Clemm ... for all the years that we have been together, many times I caught myself thinking that I love you too much, so much that it seemed impossible to love more,” in fact, there is nothing surprising in such a message loving husband wife. If Winston Churchill had not written this letter after forty years of marriage, in which five children were born.

Their eldest daughter Diana was born in 1909. It was a child of passion. From honeymoon trip Winston wrote a letter to his mother-in-law, which shocked even the far from chaste Mrs. Hozier (she was known as one of the most unfaithful wives in London's high society) with her frankness: “We make love a lot. I find this occupation serious and delightfully pleasant. In this recognition, the key word should be considered "serious". Spouses from the first days considered their union a rather serious decision. They remained faithful to each other all their lives: neither one nor the other could even think of betrayal.

What was Clemmie and Winnie's marriage based on? On his mind and on her peace of mind. His career knew both ups and downs. The Churchills lived both richly and not very well. In 1921 they experienced a tragedy. Their youngest daughter Marigold, the fourth child and third girl born in this marriage, died. There was no limit to Clementine's grief. She screamed like a wounded animal. Winston experienced loss in his own way. He closed himself in a room with whiskey and cigars. And what about the wife? She - the mother - was the first to pull herself together and forced her husband to come out of captivity. Born next year last child of this couple is Mary's daughter.

In general, Clementine was perfectly able to stop attacks of both her husband's anger and his depression. During the recessions of his political career, Churchill "under the guidance" of his wife indulged in other pursuits. He drew quite well and was as happy as a child when he managed to sell one of his paintings a painting. In 1953 Winston Churchill received Nobel Prize on literature.

"You're just impossible!"

He was first elected Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1940. Churchill was then sixty-five - the time of his retirement. He smoked a dozen cigars a day and could drink a bottle of cognac. The husband did not like this way of life for the husband. But she never tried to change him. As well as he - her. Much more, Clementine was worried that her husband could become arrogant and corrupted by power. She wrote to him: “You are simply impossible!” And the husband moderated his imperious ardor. However, if the relationship of the couple can be called serene, then in terms of raising children, they were pursued by continuous failures. Their only son became a social rake, who was most interested in drinking and entertainment. He, unlike his father, alcohol prevented to take place in life. Daughter Sarah turned into a drunken alcoholic. Diana committed suicide due to disorder in her personal life. Only the youngest daughter - Mary - became not only a happy mother and wife, but also a famous biographer of her parents. Clementine was very worried about the children. And Winston consoled her with characteristic irony: it is easier to rule a nation than to raise four children. He believed that children can be controlled only while they are in the womb. When Churchill turned eighty, a group was quietly created on English television, which began to prepare documentary to his demise. Team members also had to film the funeral of a great politician. No one doubted the imminent death of the great Winston: he had health problems. And smoking and drinking did not make him stronger physically. But the man-paradox "deceived" the nation in this too. He died in 1965 at the age of ninety, outliving many of the crew members. Clementine lived for ninety-two years and passed away in 1977. When asked about the promise of a happy marriage, Clementine replied: - Never force husbands to agree with you. You will achieve much more by continuing to calmly adhere to your beliefs, and after a while you yourself will see how your spouse will imperceptibly come to the conclusion that you are right.

How not to annoy your husband for half a century?

“My marriage was the happiest and most joyful event of my entire life”
W. Churchill

The love story of W. Churchill and Clementine Hozier is a confirmation of the old truth that
that opposites attract, and with such force that even death cannot separate them.
Their marriage lasted 57 years, lived in love, understanding and complete trust in each other.
There was, perhaps, in the foreign history of the twentieth century, politics more popular and more significant,
than Winston Spencer Churchill. From the family of the Dukes of Marlborough, a member of the Anglo-Boer and World War II
wars, he did a lot and did a lot, and not only for Great Britain. Volumes have been written about him.
Yes, he told a lot about himself. But today it is not about him, or rather not only about him.
I wonder what kind of woman was next to him for fifty-seven years?
What kind of person is his wife Clementine Churchill, née Hoyzier, who
from a noble Scottish family of Airlie?

She was born on April 1, 1885 and was 11 years younger than Winston.
When they got married she was 23 and Churchill was 34.
Clementine was fluent in German and French, had a sharp mind and a subtle sense of humor, was interested in politics. The family was not rich, and Clementine gave French lessons.
But at 23, the girl was also picky, she was in no hurry to get married, ruining three engagements. Winston, on the other hand, was one of those people whose shortcomings were immediately visible, and whose virtues were discovered a little later. And although he already had rich life experience, Winston was a bear with a bear with women:
neither you beautiful courtship, nor you compliments. He was, above all, a warrior and
too straightforward to be considered a gentleman.
Besides, the young lord was accustomed to bachelor life and didn't want to leave her.
Therefore, having finally decided to marry, for two recent years he received three rejections to his proposals.
In addition, the brides understood that main woman for the applicant will be her majesty - Politics.
In general, they could not discern an excellent party in the wayward and conceited gentleman.
But the sky ordered - and they met: Winston and Clementine!
It turns out that fate had already brought them together four years ago at the same ball,
but since Churchill did not yet know how to dance, a nimble gentleman took the beauty away from him.

They met at a London ball at Crewe House. Churchill behaved extremely constrainedly -
barely looked at 19-year-old Clementine and didn't say a word. He didn't even invite her to dance.
Then she accepted an invitation to dance another gentleman.
This ended the first meeting between Winston and Clemmie.
Their paths parted to meet again - four years later.
Needless to say, even now he did not burn with the desire to go to the ball
(after all, among other things, there will also be dances, which he could not stand).
The second meeting took place at a dinner party at Aunt Clementine's. It should be noted that this time
neither Clemmy nor Winston were going to appear on it. But Fate is a stubborn thing:
despite the fact that Miss Hozier did not have a single decent dress, and besides, for a long time she could not find
his ball gloves, and the young lord would never have come to this dinner if not for his secretary
Eddie Marsh, but in the end everything turned out well ...

Already in August of the same year, he proposed to Clementine. The groom for that time was very
extravagant and peculiar, and therefore Clementine almost refused again!
But still, on August 15, 1908, Deputy Minister Churchill announced his wedding.
The high society issued a summary: this marriage will last six months, no more, and the marriage will fall apart because
that Churchill was not made for family life.
But it turned out differently: they lived 57 years in love and fidelity.

Roy Jenkins wrote: "It is simply phenomenal that Winston and Clementine are the offspring of windy ladies -
created one of the most famous marriages in world history, known as their happiness,
as well as his loyalty.

Churchill's biographers write that he was often lucky, but most of all he was lucky with his wife!
And family life began. They were complete opposites each other, and that is precisely what they
tied up. She became the only person who was able to cope with a quick-tempered
Churchill's character. In her presence, he was transformed.
What he just did not get up: wrote books, learned to fly a plane, spent the night away
in the casino, losing and winning back fortunes, led the political life of the country, drank
an exorbitant amount of whiskey, smoked Havana cigars endlessly, devoured kilogram dishes!

But Clementine did not try to curb her husband, correct his shortcomings and remake his character,
as a less intelligent woman would try to do. She accepted him for who he was.
An uncompromising and stubborn politician near his wife became a meek youth. And she became
him as a colleague, first adviser and true friend. She was not easy with him, but she was never bored.
Churchill talked a lot, never listening or even hearing anyone. She found a wonderful way
communication with him. The wife wrote letters to her husband. A total of 1,700 letters and postcards were written. And their youngest
daughter Marie then published these lines of love.
I must also say that the wife was a lark, and her husband was an owl. This is partly why they never get together.
didn't have breakfast. Churchill once said that having breakfast together is a test that cannot be
withstand any family union. They rested most often apart: she loved the tropics, and he
preferred extreme. One gets the impression that a wise wife did not flicker before her husband’s eyes,
did not reshape him in her own way, but was always there when he wanted it.

Despite his inherent frivolity, he never cheated on his wife. And she was completely absorbed by him.
Clementine was with him before last day- all 57 years. And in sorrow and in joy. She always showed alive
interest in what her husband was doing. Clemmy even participated in the creation of Churchill's memoirs,
but not as a writer, but as a critic. They came up with touching nicknames for each other: she called him
Mr Pug is a pug and he is her cat. They had five children: son Randolph and
daughters Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary.

And in the house, in fairness, it must be said, very often his call was heard: “Clemmy!”
By the way, they also slept in different bedrooms.
One day, speaking to Oxford students, Clementine said:
“Never force a husband to agree with you. You will achieve more by continuing calmly
stick to your beliefs, and after a while you will see how your spouse will quietly come to the conclusion that
that you are right."
They plunged into crises, became poor and became rich again, but their union was never subjected to
doubt, and their spiritual closeness only grew stronger over the years.
In September 1941, Clementine appealed to the British to support the USSR:
“We are amazed at the power of Russian resistance!” From 1941 to 1946, she, as president of the Red
Cross of Aid to Russia "made the first installment, and then members of her husband's government did it.

At first, the Russian Relief Fund planned to raise 1 million, but managed to raise many times
more: approximately £8 million. No "non-liquid" or second-hand, everything is just
high-quality and the most necessary: ​​equipment for hospitals, food, clothing,
prostheses for the disabled. Before the very victory of Clementine, for a whole month and a half, from April 2 to
mid-May, was in the Soviet Union. She visited many cities - in particular, Leningrad,
Stalingrad, Odessa, Rostov-on-Don. She was also in the house-museum of A.P. Chekhov in Yalta.
Having met Victory Day in Moscow, Clementine spoke on Moscow radio with an open message
Winston Churchill. For her work in helping our country, Clementine was awarded
Order of the Red Banner of Labor. She also met with Stalin, who gave her a golden
a ring with a diamond.
Until now, historians are perplexed why Clementine was in the Soviet Union for so long.
After the war, Winston Churchill published a six-volume work on the Second World War, for which
in 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
It is likely that Churchill, in order not to sin against the truth, instructed his wife to look at the consequences
war with his own eyes, for Winston never trusted anyone in his life more than her. She, of course, did not collect facts: others did, but her opinion for the prime minister was always decisive.
After her husband's death, Clementine became a member of the House of Lords and a life peer as a baroness.
Spencer-Churchill-Chartwell. This amazing woman died on December 12, 1977,
lived 92 years.

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