Le titre fait référence au discours de Churchill dont le texte est lisible sur la page
https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/their-finest-hour/Il a été prononcé le 18 juin ... 1940.
Le discours comporte trois parties :
- L'actualité récente de la défaite de la France et du retrait des trois divisions britanniques de la France par Dunkerque.
- La défense de l'Angleterre qui est assurée par la faiblesse des marines allemande et italienne, par le minage des côtes anglaises, et par d'autres moyens.
- La poursuite de la guerre, avec le moyen principal qui est celui du "power of our long-distance blockade" (la puissance de notre blocus à distance), qui affamera l'ennemi lors de l'hiver prochain "the winter will impose a strain upon the Nazi regime, with almost all Europe writhing and starving".
Par ailleurs, Churchill ne se sent pas très fort puisqu'il se sent obligé de développer un long paragraphe sur l'unité :
"There are many who would hold an inquest in the House of Commons on the conduct of the Governments-and of Parliaments, for they are in it, too-during the years which led up to this catastrophe. They seek to indict those who were responsible for the guidance of our affairs. This also would be a foolish and pernicious process. There are too many in it. Let each man search his conscience and search his speeches. I frequently search mine. Of this I am quite sure, that if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future. Therefore, I cannot accept the drawing of any distinctions between Members of the present Government. It was formed at a moment of crisis in order to unite all the Parties and all sections of opinion. It has received the almost unanimous support of both Houses of Parliament. Its Members are going to stand together, and, subject to the authority of the House of Commons, we are going to govern the country and fight the war. It is absolutely necessary at a time like this that every Minister who tries each day to do his duty shall be respected; and their subordinates must know that their chiefs are not threatened men, men who are here today and gone tomorrow, but that their directions must be punctually and faithfully obeyed. Without this concentrated power we cannot face what lies before us. I should not think it would be very advantageous for the House to prolong this Debate this afternoon under conditions of public stress."