Description:

Winston Churchill SP Ca. March 1945, The Same Month Churchill Crossed the Rhine Not Once But Twice

A vintage photograph signed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965), as "WS Churchill" outside of the image along the bottom of the mount. The signed photo is displayed to the right of a letter, with the "Prime Minister" seal, typed as, "With Mr. Churchill's / Compliments. / March, 1945." The photo mount has a small wrinkle at the lower right, else near fine, while the typed letter shows expected wear including scattered minor folds, wrinkles, and holes. The sight size of the photo is 4.375" x 6.125." Both items are matted and framed behind glass in a sleek gold-finished frame with museum-quality 99% UV ray-filtering glass. Not examined out of the frame. The overall size of the frame is 13.5" x 12.125" x 1.5."

The end of World War II seemed in sight in March 1945. Ever since the D-Day invasion in June 1944, Allied forces had been marching ever eastward towards Germany and the heart of the Third Reich. Allied diplomatic cooperation was also at its apex. Churchill and Roosevelt convened privately at Malta in late January and early February 1945, and then, forming "The Big Three" with Joseph Stalin, the world leaders met at the Yalta Conference (February 4 to 11, 1945.)

March 1945 brought success on the military front. British and American forces under Bernard Montgomery and Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in Operation Plunder, the military movement to cross the Rhine River, from March 23-27, 1945. Winston Churchill had traveled to the German-Dutch frontier in advance of the operation and witnessed Allied air landings on March 24th. On March 25, 1945, Churchill and Montgomery triumphantly crossed the Rhine River in an Allied landing craft and stood unchallenged on the German-occupied east bank. Churchill crossed the Rhine River a second time the following day, March 26th, though that time it was by Jeep.

Churchill underscored the symbolic importance of his first Rhine River crossing when he recalled the event in his memoir, "The Second World War," Vol. IV, p. 365:

"The Rhine…flowed at our feet…I saw a small launch come close by to moor. So I said to Montgomery, ‘Why don’t we go across and have a look at the other side?’ Somewhat to my surprise he answered, ‘Why not?’ After he had made some inquiries we started across the river with three or four American commanders and half a dozen armed men. We landed in brilliant sunshine and perfect peace on the German shore, and walked about for half an hour or so unmolested…"

The vintage black and white photo depicts Churchill standing next to his work desk. No formal Churchill portrait would be complete without signature Churchillian signature items such as pinstriped pants, navy blue and white polka dot tie, and white pocket square, all elements of the premier's classic wardrobe which are shown here. This photo is very similar--in terms of clothing, props, and environment--to a known photo of Churchill taken by British photographer Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) in 1940 during Churchill's first term as premier. Perhaps this version of Churchill standing was taken at the same photo sitting?

Winston Churchill's first term as Prime Minister spanned from May 1940 to July 26, 1945. Thus in March 1945, Victory in Europe Day was just in the offing, but so was Churchill's general election loss to his successor Clement Attlee. Churchill returned for a second term as Prime Minister from 1951-1955.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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