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

This is not the action of strong ‘expansionist’ leaders, but of frightened men reacting indecisively to a situation which they judged to be crucially dangerous, but with which they did not know how to deal.[i] On the night of Tuesday, …

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

Recalling those days one is not only impressed, but almost oppressed, with the sense of how many issues we were faced with and had to handle at the same time.[i] When George Brown stormed out of Downing St in the …

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

On Sunday, 20 February 1938, after two days of fraught Cabinet discussion, Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that he must resign rather than agree to enter into early talks with the Italian government led by Mussolini. …

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

‘Faith, hope and parity’ On Saturday, 18 November 1967, sterling was devalued by 14% from $2.80 to $2.40. Although rumours of impending devaluation had been widespread in the press, including in Europe and the United States, the announcement by the …

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

The missionary strain in the character of Americans leads many of them to feel that they have now received a call to extend to other countries the blessings with which the Almighty has endowed their own [1] Seventy years ago, …

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

As Cuban as palm trees The death of Fidel Castro at the age of 90 on 26 November 2016 marked the end of an extraordinary life: head of the Cuban government from 1959 until he handed over to his brother …

History of government

This blog gives insights into the history of government – its development, its departments and some of the roles and people involved. Find out more.

Categories

Contributors include:

• The No 10 Guest Historian series
• The Cabinet Confidential series

Sign up and manage updates

• Email
• Atom

Follow us

• The National Archives on Twitter
• The National Archives on Facebook
• FCDO historians on Twitter
• History & Policy on Twitter

Recent Posts

• Filling ‘the hole in the centre’: The No.10 Policy Unit – 50 years on 2 May 2024
• The founding of the NHS: 75 years on 13 July 2023
• Visiting the secret state: Margaret Thatcher and Intelligence 21 December 2022
• What the Butler saw: Britain and the Abadan Crisis, 1950-51 7 December 2022
• Curzon's comeuppance 25 November 2022

Comments and moderation

Read our guidelines