Gill Bennett

Formerly Chief Historian of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Senior Editor of the FCO’s official history of postwar foreign policy, Documents on British Policy Overseas, 1995-2005. She was a Visiting Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 2002-03 and formerly Assistant Editor of Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939.

What’s the context? Polish cryptologists reveal they have cracked the Enigma code, 26 July 1939

Gill Bennett, 26 July 2019 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

On 26 July 1939, in a forest near Warsaw, Polish code breakers told their British colleagues how they had cracked the German Enigma code. As war against Nazi Germany approached, the meeting symbolised the importance of political, as well as intelligence co-operation in the struggle ahead.

What’s the context? 4 April 1949: signature of the North Atlantic Treaty

Gill Bennett, 4 April 2019 - Foreign affairs and diplomacy, Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

NATO remains the cornerstone of Western security. But as it celebrates its 70th birthday, it is worth remembering the part played in the negotiations by other regions such as Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific.

What’s the context? 31 March 1939: the British guarantee to Poland

Gill Bennett, 28 March 2019 - Foreign Office Historians, Second World War

On 31 March 1939 Neville Chamberlain committed Britain to defending Polish independence. After years of trying to preserve peace and buy time for rearmament, he recognised that international developments and domestic opinion meant this guarantee was necessary, though it was to mean war with Germany 6 months later.

Soviet forces invade Czechoslovakia, 20 to 21 August 1968

Gill Bennett, 20 August 2018 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...his programme of free socialist development, toleration of dissent and the secret ballot would not affect external policy, the Prague Spring appeared an unacceptable threat to Communist solidarity. But the...

What’s the context? George Brown resigns as Foreign Secretary, 15 March 1968

Gill Bennett, 15 March 2018 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...When George Brown stormed out of Downing St in the early hours of 15 March 1968, it was not the first time he had threatened to resign. On this occasion...

What’s the context? The resignation of Anthony Eden, 20 February 1938

Gill Bennett, 20 February 2018 - Foreign affairs and diplomacy, Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...free hand in Eastern Europe and Russia and for territorial changes brought about by force; both accepted that conflict with Hitler’s Nazi Germany was probably inevitable, but that delaying that...

What’s the Context? 20 December 1917: formation of the Cheka, the first Soviet security and intelligence agency

Gill Bennett, 20 December 2017 - Foreign affairs and diplomacy, Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

‘The Soviets would not last two days without the activities of the Cheka, but with the Cheka, the Soviet State was safe’: Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Defending the Revolution Before the October Revolution in 1917 that put the Bolsheviks in power …

What’s the Context? 18 November 1967: Devaluation of Sterling

Gill Bennett, 17 November 2017 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...in the face of forces it was no longer able to control’ The Labour government had weathered a number of economic storms since 1964, but actually achieved a budget surplus...

What’s the Context? US President announces the ‘Truman Doctrine’, 12 March 1947

Gill Bennett, 10 March 2017 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...on India, against a backdrop of inter-communal rioting, following the announcement in February that Britain would transfer power to an Indian government no later than June 1948. Problems remained in...

What’s The Context? 8 January 1959: Fidel Castro enters Havana in triumph

Gill Bennett, 8 January 2017 - Foreign Office Historians, What's the context? series

...allegations of corruption against advisers close to the President led to a heavy Republican defeat in the mid-term elections on 4 November 1958. There were also major tensions between the...

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