London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Woke warning slapped on a letter from Churchill describing Germans as 'Huns'

Woke warning slapped on a letter from Churchill describing Germans as 'Huns'

A WOKE warning has been slapped on a letter from Sir Winston Churchill describing the Germans as Huns.

New research by the National Archives highlights the “use of the derogatory word”.

But campaigners have slammed the dig at the World War Two PM.

It is in a blog by archives author Mark Dunton on Churchill’s secret voyages to meet other Allied leaders.

In 1941 Sir Winston wrote to US President Franklin D Roosevelt: “We are just off.

It is twenty-seven years ago today that Huns began their last war. We must make a good job of it this time. Kindest regards.”

Mr Dunton goes on to warn his readers: “The use of the derogatory word ‘Huns’ to describe the Germans obviously needs to be viewed in the historical context.”

The National Archives, at Kew, South West London, is “guardian of some of the nation’s most iconic documents”.

But Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, insisted: “It is demeaning, shameful and barmy.

“It doesn’t help anyone if common historical terms require trigger warnings. If people using the archives have to be protected from such terms, where does it end? Huns was a term used by heroes to describe what they saw as Nazi atrocities.

“The National Archives are the custodians of our national history, they shouldn’t be sanitising the past.”

The Hun were originally a 5th Century nomadic Asiatic tribe.

Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II used the term for his troops during the 1899 Boxer Rebellion in China.

The term was widely used by the Allies during World War One.

A National Archives spokesman said: “There is no trigger warning on the blog. The author included a line within the text to explain a derogatory term no longer commonly used.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×