The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

The Germans gain ground against British forces on the Middle Eastern front, notably in Libya. Churchill orders the British general in command there, Archibald Wavell, to defend the city of Tobruk at all costs. The Germans carry out a brutal retaliatory attack on Yugoslavia for turning against Hitler. Churchill sends British troops to Greece to defend the people there against Nazi incursions in that country.

Mary joins her parents and other officials for a tour on foot of the badly bombed cities of Swansea and Bristol. The crowds greet Churchill enthusiastically, impressing on him their “confidence” and his “grave responsibility.” Bristol has just been hit by a severe bombing, the Good Friday Raid. The next day, Easter Eve, Churchill confers honorary degrees at Bristol University, where he has a titular role as chancellor.

Roosevelt sends Churchill welcome news that he has decided to extend the American naval security zone and other measures that will help the British navy. US ships and aircraft will patrol these waters so as to detect and report to the British the presence of enemy ships.