Of which country did Winston Churchill say "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma"?

The full quotation, dating from 1 October 1939, one month after the start of WW2, is very interesting: 'I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.'

It comes from a BBC radio address 'The Russian Enigma' -- see Robert Rhodes James, ed., Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Speeches, 1897–1963 vol. 6 (1974), p. 6161.

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13 Comments

Elsy O. Stromberg

Scottlarock: He said Russia, not Soviet Union.

Louella Wilson

scottlarock, regardless of the Soviet aspect, Churchill's quote specifically says Russia! So, are you correcting Churchill? In 1939, did he and much of Europe stil separate out the two concepts?

mapiferuk

Given that Russia no longer existed at the time this is a trick question and should be reworded or struck off!

Ben

It is quite a mistake that UK and US aligned themselves with dictator Stalin, who literally massacre his own people in the gulag concentration camp. And signed a peace treaty with Hitler's Nazi regime. That made a messed in Europe after the war, most countries are controlled by Soviet communist.

Sheila Robinson

Still true today! How can the Russian people still believe Putin?

elizawheeler

I believe Putin has lost his mind. It's time for his inner circle to put a stop to his insanity.

dmarkc

I think most would have callled it Russia, since till 1918 the royal families of Russia, England, Germany and other European countries were genetically interlaced and commonly referred to for several hundred years.