Churchill made this comment on 20 August 1940 in a speech during the Battle of Britain - that is, the battle in the air over southern Britain in July-October, 1940. It was a very difficult time for Britain: in June 1940 France had collapsed and installed a pro-Nazi government.
In the summer (and autumn) of 1940 the outcome of World War 2 in Europe depended on whether or not the Nazis would succeed in destroying the Royal Air Force (RAF). Many people had noted that the number of actual combattants involved in this particular battle was very small, and there were remarks to the effect that the fighting in the skies was rather like some ancient battle between champions. It was quite different from land battles between huge armies. However, the outcome was of the utmost importance. This is what the famous quote is about.
Joncey
the simple answer : he meant that the whole population (so many) owed so much to so few (the pilots) who saved England from Hitler.
Anthony Eden paraphrased this in North Africa when the British were defeating the Italians before Rommels arrival : Never in the field of human conflict was so much surrendered by so many to so few....
The Battle of Britain : The 'Few' were the RAF pilots (& the ground crew) that kept the Luftwaffe at bay in the summer of 1940. The reality was that Germany was prevented fom invading Britain because of the English Channel: But it's a very good example of Churchills' ablility to focus popular opinion. The original Master of the Soundbite !
He was describing the part played by the fighter pilots of the Royal Air Force (The Few) in the Battle of Britain where the Lufftwaffe (the German Air Force) of superior numbers were defeated over Southern Britain and therefore thwarted the planned invasion.
The many were the people of Britain who owed their continued freedom to that action.
He was referring to the fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain, which was Hitler's prelude to his planned invasion of the UK. If the Luftwaffe had been able to destroy the Royal Air Force, Britain would probably have been invaded by Nazi Germany. Churchill was very aware of this and was eternally grateful (as was the whole population) to the 'Few' pilots who thwarted Hitler's plan.
i think it was about the battle of Britain
Never before in warfare.
Winston Churchill.
''never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many yo so few'' - prime minister churchill.
Never, in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,
It was said in relation to the role of the RAF fighting against Germany in the Battle of Britain - in World War II... "Never, in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many, to so few."
Winston Churchill, about RAF Fighter Command after the Battle of Britain "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"
Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few. (Winston Churchill) This is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it might be the end of the beginning. (Winston Churchill)
Winston Churchill said it about the RAF pilots who won the Battle of Britain. Although it is generally associated with Churchill, he didn't actually coin the phrase It had been used before by someone else.He simply adapted it.
There were many famous quotes by Winston Churchill - he was an incredibly good orator.
It was the ultimate battle for air superiority and was an emphatic victory for the RAF and allied crews against a much larger force. A turning point in WW2 immortalised by Winston Churchill with the words, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
One very famous quote about not forgetting heroes is the Churchill quote 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'. Another famous quote is 'The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example' by Disraeli.