Whitewashed History-Winston Churchill

Whitewashed History-Winston Churchill

Similarities between Churchill and Hitler

In the West, in my case specifically the U.S.A., we are given a very selective and flawed view of history. This serves many purposes.

Primarily it serves to keep up patriotism, to make us believe that we are the “good guys” fighting for all that is right in the world. Also with that, it serves to keep us from wanting to explore the world or see outside views, because why would you want to leave the best country on earth?

We become an isolated echo-chamber of thought, not realizing that we are being subjected to propaganda to keep us complacent. Often times this complacency means we are funding or contributing to atrocities done around the world in our name.

In the case of World War II we are taught that we were the saviors of freedom and that our side was the just and morally superior side. Although it does get a bit murky in the history books when they talk about the U.S.S.R. being our allies, they don’t really want to delve too far into that part given the subsequent Cold War.

Ultimately yes, we were on the right side in fighting the Nazis, Imperial Japan and the Fascist Italians, but how morally superior were our leaders?

We condemn the Nazis primarily for killing 6 million Jews, we talk about how evil this atrocity was. How could someone choose to do such an unspeakable act, especially based purely on someone’s race?

If that is truly how our leaders felt, then why did they excuse, or at least omit from our history books the fact that Churchill killed 3 million Indians due to his racial prejudices?

What event am I talking about? The Bengal Famine.

The Bengal Famine had multiple causes, firstly there had been a cyclone and tidal wave that had hit the region, in addition to a fungal outbreak that caused crop failures, which caused the initial scarcity. This initial scarcity was exacerbated by Imperial Japan’s occupation of Burma, who India usually would import rice from when needed.

So how does that make the deaths Churchill's fault? Well, India was under England’s control, and as such Churchill enacted the policies that diverted the grain from the region. He prioritized grain for the troops, although there wasn’t a shortage. He also blocked any exports of grain from the other areas of India that had enough from being sent to Bengal.

In addition to all of this, he also refused food supplies from being sent from the U.S. or Canada when they offered, since he didn’t want the English empire to appear “weak”.

So rather than appear weak, or even allow enough of the food being produced in India to stay in India to feed these people, he chose to let them starve.

Should we be surprised that a colonial power would do this to the occupied people?

Keep in mind as well that India, under British colonial rule, also committed 2.5 million soldiers to the war for the Allied side. You could honor their service to the war effort by at least making sure their people don’t die of starvation.

But author, was he really racist?…or was this just something done for the war effort? Was he even aware of the situation?

He was notified multiple times including by Viceroy Archibald Wavel in India of how dire the circumstances were, but each time downplayed or outright ignored it.

The war effort? There is no evidence that it was necessary to divert the amount of food away from Bengal that was done, the soldiers were not short of food. In addition, as mentioned England could’ve accepted aid from the U.S. or Canada who offered, but decided to refuse.

As for Churchill being racist? I won’t make that decision for you, but let’s look at some of the statements he made over time, including specifically about the famine he caused.

“I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.” -Winston Churchill

To give you an idea of his general feelings towards non-white races.

“I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes.”-Winston Churchill

Something you may have been more likely to think came out of Hitler’s mouth…

“I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion. The famine was their own fault for breeding like rabbits.”-Winston Churchill

And finally, this one just in case you thought he may have felt any remorse for what he caused.

Was he on the right side fighting the Nazis, yes. Did he enjoy the idea of killing people he saw as inferior races with gas just like Hitler? Yes. Did he cause the genocide of millions of people based purely on his view of them as being less than human? Yes.

Should he be celebrated as some sort of hero? Fuck no.