<P> Therefore, when talking about the future course and conduct of the war in this speech, Churchill had to describe a great military disaster, and warn of a possible German invasion attempt, without casting doubt on eventual victory . He needed to prepare his domestic audience for France's departure from the war without in any way releasing France to do so; in his subsequent speech of 18 June immediately after the French had sued for peace Churchill said: </P> <P> The military events which have happened during the past fortnight have not come to me with any sense of surprise . Indeed, I indicated a fortnight ago as clearly as I could to the House that the worst possibilities were open, and I made it perfectly clear then that whatever happened in France would make no difference to the resolve of Britain and the British Empire to fight on, if necessary for years, if necessary alone . </P> <P> Finally, he needed to reiterate a policy and an aim unchanged--despite the intervening events--from his speech of 13 May, in which he had said: </P> <P> We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind . We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering . You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime . That is our policy . You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be . </P>

Winston churchill we shall fight on the beaches text