Editing Winston Churchill (section)

==First Lord of the Admiralty: September 1939 to May 1940==
{{main|Winston Churchill in the Second World War}}

===Phoney War and the Norwegian Campaign===
On 3 September 1939, the day Britain declared war on Germany, Chamberlain reappointed Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty and he joined [[Chamberlain war ministry|Chamberlain's war cabinet]].{{sfn|Churchill|1967b|p=7}} Churchill was a highest-profile minister during the so-called "[[Phoney War]]". Churchill was ebullient after the [[Battle of the River Plate]] on 13 December 1939 and welcomed home the crews, congratulating them on "a brilliant sea fight".{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=634}} On 16 February 1940, Churchill ordered Captain [[Philip Vian]] of the destroyer {{HMS|Cossack|F03|6}} to board the German supply ship {{ship|German tanker|Altmark||2}} in Norwegian waters freeing 299 British merchant seamen who had been captured by the {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}}. These actions, and his speeches, enhanced Churchill's reputation.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=634}} He was concerned about German naval activity in the Baltic and wanted to send a naval force, but this was soon changed to a plan, codenamed ''[[Operation Wilfred]]'', to mine Norwegian waters and stop iron ore shipments from [[Narvik]] to Germany.{{sfn|Shakespeare|2017|p=30}} Due to disagreements, ''Wilfred'' was delayed until 8 April 1940, the day before the [[Operation Weserübung|German invasion of Norway]].{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|pp=573–574}}

===Norway Debate and Chamberlain's resignation===
{{main|Norway Debate}}
[[File:0929 fc-churchill-halifax.jpg|thumb|right|Churchill with [[Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax|Lord Halifax]] in 1938]]
After the [[Norwegian campaign|Allies failed to prevent]] the German occupation of Norway, the Commons held a debate from 7 to 9 May on the government's conduct of the war. This became known as the [[Norway Debate]], one of the most significant events in parliamentary history.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|pp=576–577}} On the second day, the Labour opposition called for a [[division of the assembly|division]] which was in effect a [[vote of no confidence]] in Chamberlain's government.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=579}} Churchill was called upon to wind up the debate, which placed him in the difficult position of having to defend the government without damaging his prestige.{{sfn|Shakespeare|2017|pp=299–300}} Although the government won the vote, its majority was drastically reduced amid calls for a national government.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=582}}

Early on 10 May, German forces invaded Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands as a prelude to their [[Battle of France|assault on France]].{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=583}} Since the division vote, Chamberlain had been trying to form a coalition, but Labour declared on the Friday they would not serve under his leadership, although they would accept another Conservative. The only two candidates were Churchill and [[Lord Halifax]], the Foreign Secretary. The matter had already been discussed at a meeting on the 9th between Chamberlain, Halifax, Churchill, and [[David Margesson]], the government [[Chief Whip]].{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=583}} Halifax admitted he could not govern effectively as a member of the House of Lords, so Chamberlain advised the King to send for Churchill, who became prime minister.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=586}} Churchill later wrote of a profound sense of relief, as he now had authority over the whole scene. He believed his life so far had been "a preparation for this hour and for this trial".{{sfn|Arthur|2015|p=170}}{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=592}}{{sfn|Churchill|1967b|p=243}}