Macmillan, the Second World War and the Empire

Harold Macmillan had a good war. His appointment as Resident Minister to AFHQ, Algiers at the end of 1942 made his political career. Macmillan himself commented in later life, ‘my belief is, when you get a chance, take it. It was always my philosophy. Chance played such a role in my life - Winston, the war, Algiers, Housing . . . made me Prime Minister.’ With the exception of Housing the other three factors Macmillan identifies are, essentially, the same. His record as an anti-appeaser and relationship with Churchill meant nothing until he got his opportunity in Algiers. Churchill was ruthless with his junior ministers. Macmillan held two relatively unimportant junior ministerial posts at Supply and Colonies. In the autumn of 1942 he was effectively demoted and considered resignation. If he had done so there is little doubt that his political career would have been at an end.