World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseBorn Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George of Windsor, he became Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney in 1920 and took the throne as King George VI on 11 Dec 1936. He had experience in the service of the British Royal Navy and was a veteran of the Battle of Jutland in WW1. Facing the fragile political situation in Europe at the time, he was at first in favor of the appeasement policy, but very soon he knew a war would be unavoidable. In 1939, he traveled to Canada and the United States to gather support for when Britain would be engulfed in war. When Britain entered the war in 1939, he decided to remain in London instead of fleeing to the countryside as some of his advisors suggested, though at times he did take shelter in Windsor Castle during the worst German raids. During the war, King George VI and his wife the Queen provided morale support for the British people, visiting bomb sites and munitions factories. He had also taken a keen interest in the war on a strategic level; after his personal request, he was briefed on the overall plan for Operation Overlord against the Normandy beaches by Dwight Eisenhower and his lieutenants. Before the war ended, however, his health deteriorated. The heiress presumptive Princess Elizabeth began taking a greater role in royal duties. In 1948, he gave up the title King of Ireland as Ireland left the Commonwealth, then in the following year the title Emperor of India as the former British colony was given dominion status. King George VI died in his sleep at Sandringham House in Norfolk at the age of 56. He now rests in peace at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Famous Quote(s)

• "Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of German barbarity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory."
      » 1 Sep 1940

George VI Interactive Map

Photographs

Videos

George VI Timeline

Visitor Submitted Comments

Show older comments