The defeat of Hitler remains the greatest chapter in our proud history

IN HIS most inspiring wartime speech, delivered in August 1940, Winston Churchill declared that if Britain prevailed in the epic quest for survival against Germany, future generations would say: "This was their Finest Hour."

- By Leo McKinstry Express columnist and historian

As the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe approaches, Churchill's phrase continues to resonate as powerfully as ever. The defeat of Hitler's regime is widely regarded as the greatest chapter in our island story.

In this narrative of glory, a profound sense of pride and admiration is evoked by the heroic images of that conflict, like the Arctic convoys braving icy temperatures to deliver supplies to our Soviet ally, or the troops of the 8th Army racing across the desert in pursuit of the broken German Afrika Corps in late 1942, or the Spitfires taking to the skies against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.

Central to this emotional resonance is the portrayal of Britain as the brave underdog, standing alone in 1940 against the Reich's mighty war machine. What Britain had on its side was a sense of moral purpose.

Because of the Nazis' murderous, genocidal authoritarianism, this was no ordinary military encounter. On the contrary, it represented the eternal fight between good and evil. It was a new version of the classic myth of Saint George slaying the Dragon, the chivalrous tale of King Arthur translated into the modern world.

And the Daily Express was at the heart of a different but also critical kind of battle - for public opinion. A generation of brilliant journalists like Clare Hollingworth, Alan Moorehead and Alaric Jacob used all of their skill and passion to report the news whilst also spreading confidence amongst the paper's five-million-strong daily readership.

It was said that even the King and Queen turned to the Express rather than The Times when they wanted to understand public opinion. Australian-born Moorehead was a renowned foreign correspondent whose reporting of the war, from campaigns in the Middle East and North Africa to the liberation of Europe, won international acclaim. He was twice mentioned in despatches.