We Shall Fight on the Beaches

Gestapo is the abbreviation of the German term Geheime Staatspolizei (“Secret State Police”). The Gestapo was the political police of Nazi Germany whose primary purpose was to identify and eliminate opposition to the Nazi regime, including political opponents, resistance groups, Jews, communists, intellectuals, and anyone deemed a threat to the stability of the Nazi state. The Gestapo employed various methods of surveillance, interrogation, intimidation, and violence to achieve its goals. Its actions were characterized by brutality, torture, and the widespread use of fear to suppress dissent.

In the final paragraph of his speech, Churchill notes that many parts of Europe have already been occupied by “the Gestapo.” He uses this reminder of the German secret police to represent the insidious, non-democratic forces employed by Nazi Germany. Churchill vows that Britain will not fall to the tyranny that the Gestapo silently impose among citizens.

A plenipotentiary is a diplomat invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country. This term is introduced when the Belgian King calls for aide and then leaves the British and French forces exposed to the German army. The six-syllable word creates a break in the rhythm of Churchill’s speech since prior words have consisted of no more than three syllables. The effect encourages the audience to ponder its significance. The concept of sending a plenipotentiary emphasizes the Belgian King’s self-interest. Churchill implies that, by sending a representative to declare his surrender, the King remains detached from the events of the war while causing great harm to Britain and France.