Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty and so bear
ourselves that if the British Commonwealth and Empire lasts for
a thousand years, men will still say “This was their finest
hour” 1940 was Britain’s first full year of war. It was not only
the year that the country’s very existence was threatened, it
was also - as Churchill said - its ‘finest hour’. Defeat and
occupation by Nazi Germany were very real possibilities, but it
was the momentous events of this year that helped to shape the
course, and eventual outcome, of the Second World War. In 1940,
Britain needed leadership, determination, courage, effort,
sacrifice - and luck - to survive. Explore these pages and
discover how the Museum’s unique collections tell the story of
1940 and find out how each of the Museum’s branches is marking
the pivotal events of this remarkable year.