![]() The National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or Nazi Party, grew into a mass movement and ruled Germany through totalitarian means from 1933 to 1945 under the leadership of Adolf Hitler (1889-1945). Nazis Fight to Dominate Europe: 1939-45.Hitler and the Nazis Come to Power: 1933.Beer Hall Putsch Sends Hitler to Prison.More than one survey of academics has voted Attlee the most successful British Prime Minister of all time. Attlee, however, continued to lead the Labour party until 1955, and died in 1967, aged 84. In the 1950 General Election Labour lost its majority, and by the time of its defeat in the general election of 1951, the Labour government had worked itself to near exhaustion. He placed great faith in Ernest Bevin, his Foreign Secretary, and together they oversaw Indian independence, American loans and ‘Marshall Aid’ for the rebuilding of Britain and Western Europe, the Berlin airlift and Britain’s commitment to the United Nations. On top of this, many of Britain’s largest industries – such as coal mining, electricity and the railways – were brought under state control, despite recurring currency crises and shortages of food and resources so severe that rationing had to be maintained long after the war.Īttlee’s time as Prime Minister also saw intense foreign policy activity. Despite the Second World War leaving Britain effectively bankrupt, he managed the creation of the National Health Service, part of the Welfare State that sought to provide ‘cradle to the grave’ care for British citizens. As a result, practically all of Labour’s manifesto pledges were implemented under Attlee. His leadership style was apparently collective, but once the Prime Minister had let his Cabinet voice their opinions, he would quickly make decisions with military precision. The notoriously blunt, relatively quiet man was nevertheless very skilled at quick, decisive action. His period as Prime Minister was one of intense activity. When a general election was called at the peak of the war in Europe, Attlee led the Labour Party to a surprising landslide victory, winning 393 seats to the Conservative’s 213, and 48% of the public vote. During the Second World War, he was called into Winston Churchill’s coalition government, notably holding the title of Deputy Prime Minister from 1942 to 1945. He continued to rise within the Labour Party, and was elected its leader in 1935, following the resignation of George Lansbury. On returning from the war, Attlee moved into politics, becoming Mayor of Stepney in 1919 and MP for Limehouse in 1922. His reputation as an effective, efficient leader gained him promotion to the rank of Major, a title that would stay with him beyond his military life. Upon the advent of the First World War, he applied for a Commission and served as a Captain. This experience clearly had a profound impact on Attlee, whose political views were shaped by the poverty he witnessed in London’s East End, and in 1908, he joined the Independent Labour Party. He went on to manage Haileybury House, a charitable youth organisation in Limehouse, east London. Biographyīorn to a middle-class family in London, Clement Attlee studied at Oxford University, and then trained as a lawyer. Nationalised one fifth of the British economy. National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: allowed the creation of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales, gave the public rights of way and access to open land. Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948: paid child-minders now registered and regulated inspection regime in place to check their methods and facilities meet basic minimum standards. Town and Country Planning Act 1947: planning permission now required for land development ownership alone no longer sufficient.Ĭhildren Act 1948: established a comprehensive childcare service, reforming services providing care to deprived and orphaned children. National Insurance Act 1946: introduced social security, in which persons of working age had to pay a weekly contribution and in return were entitled to a wide range of benefits when they could no longer work.Ĭoal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, Electricity Act 1947, Transport Act 1947: nationalised the coal industry, electricity utilities, railways and long-distance haulage. National Health Service Act 1946: made healthcare free on the basis of citizenship and need rather than the payment of fees or insurance premiums.
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