Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) is considered to be the most important Englishman of all times and the greatest statesman of the 20th century. Through his unyielding resistance facing menace and military aggression Hitler failed.One of the "Big Three" next to Roosevelt and Stalin, Churchill played a major role in defeating Nazi Germany and in the reorganisation of Europe after the destruction of the second world war. The political and economic unification of Europe received vital impulse from him. The author follows the trail of Churchills life and lays out an impression of a exceptional personality - the politician, visionary statesman, the successful author and free time painter.

Professor Alter taught Contemporary History at the university of Duisburg-Essen.