Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill · "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall..."

Speech to the House of Commons, "We Shall Fight on the Beaches," 4 June 1940 · Checked on 2 March 2026

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

Analysis

The quoted lines match the widely published transcript of Winston Churchill’s 4 June 1940 address to the House of Commons. The speech contains the exact phrasing: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” No words are omitted or added.

Background

Delivered after the Dunkirk evacuation, the speech was intended to rally British resolve against a possible German invasion. It has become one of the most famous wartime speeches in British history. The full text is archived in the UK Parliament’s official records and reproduced in numerous reputable historical sources.

Verdict summary

The quoted passage accurately reflects Churchill’s words in the “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech.

Sources consulted

— UK Parliament Archives – Hansard transcript of 4 June 1940 (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1940-06-04)

— National Archives – Churchill’s “We shall fight on the beaches” speech (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/churchill-speech/)

— History.com – Winston Churchill’s Famous WWII Speeches (https://www.history.com/news/winston-churchill-speeches-wwii)