Video: 'World War II: Winston Churchill speech on receiving freedom of City of London (1943)'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1943, during the Battle of the Atlantic, part of World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in a speech at Guildhall in London today that the Allies had achieved a “total defeat” of the German U-boat attack in May and June, sinking more than 30 in May alone, and that Great Britain would fight until Japan submits or “bite the dust.”

Video: 'The World At War. Episode 10.Wolf Pack: U-Boats in the Atlantic (1939–1944)' (June 30, 1943, at 52:01)

The great Allied victory in the Bailie of the Atlantic was turned into a “massacre of U-boats” during the last two months while Allied shipping was almost unmolested Churchill said in a stirring speech that covered a wide range of war subjects (click here to listen to the speech).

Despite Churchill’s victory declaration, the Battle of the Atlantic would officially continue until V-E Day on May 8, 1945.