William Deakin
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Dampier Deakin, Sir
William Deakin (1913–2005) was a historian
, World War II
veteran, and literary assistant to Winston Churchill
.
Deakin was educated at Westminster School
, then at Christ Church, Oxford
, where he began to develop a reputation as one of the most brilliant and dashing figures of his generation.
In 1941 he was seconded to Special Operations
, War Office, in 1941. In May 1943 he has parachuted into Montenegro
as representative of the British GHQ in the Middle East to the central command of the Yugoslav Partisans, who were led by Josip Broz Tito
. Deakin's mission, codenamed Typical joined Tito as the partisans were being hunted through the mountainous ravines of the region surrounding Mount Durmitor
by German and Italian forces. Just below the summit of Mount Ozren, the partisans were trapped by German aerial bombardment and forced to take cover among birch groves. In one attack, a cluster of bombs fell among them, killing Deakin's radio operator, Bill Stuart, Tito's Alsatian dog, 'Maks', and wounding both Tito and Deakin.
The Operation Typical group were disbanded at the end of September 1943 and absorbed into the mission of Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Deakin's impressive reporting on the situation from on the ground is considered to have had a decisive impact on British policy towards the support of resistance movements in Yugoslavia
(although the significant role of intelligence decrypts was not revealed until the 1970s, see Yugoslavia and the Allies
).
He was assigned the role of Literary Assistant to Sir Winston Churchill
during the years 1936-40, and the period 1945-55. He was described by Churchill's biographer, Sir Martin Gilbert
, as being "at the centre of the web of all Churchill's literary efforts."
Subsequently, Deakin completed several historical works, drawing upon his experiences during both the Second World War and his time with Churchill. His publications include numerous articles on Yugoslavia, as well as The Brutal Friendship, published in 1962. The latter was a detailed examination of German-Italian relations during World War II, and revealed Deakin not only as a formidable historian of diplomacy, but also, in his assessment of the death of Italian fascism, a notable political analyst. He was later editor, with his friend Alan Bullock
, of two series of historical texts, The British Political Tradition and The Oxford History of Modern Europe
.
In 1950, he was appointed as the first Warden (or principal) of the new St Antony's College, Oxford
. He remained in this role until 1968, when he was succeeded by another historian, Raymond Carr
, who had been appointed as his Sub-Warden in 1966.
In 1963 Deakin returned to Montenegro to perform research for his wartime memoir of fighting with Tito's army. His memoir was published as The Embattled Mountain the title referring to Mount Durmitor, the environs of which Deakin and Tito's army had been pursued over by German and Italian forces; see Battle of the Sutjeska
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
William Deakin (1913–2005) was a historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, and literary assistant to Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
Deakin was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, then at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he began to develop a reputation as one of the most brilliant and dashing figures of his generation.
In 1941 he was seconded to Special Operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
, War Office, in 1941. In May 1943 he has parachuted into Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
as representative of the British GHQ in the Middle East to the central command of the Yugoslav Partisans, who were led by Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
. Deakin's mission, codenamed Typical joined Tito as the partisans were being hunted through the mountainous ravines of the region surrounding Mount Durmitor
Durmitor
Durmitor is a massif and the name of a national park in North Western Montenegro. It reaches a height of 2,522 m .The massif is bordered by Tara River Canyon on the North, Piva River Canyon on the West, and by Komarnica River Canyon on the South. To the East, Durmitor is open to a vast ...
by German and Italian forces. Just below the summit of Mount Ozren, the partisans were trapped by German aerial bombardment and forced to take cover among birch groves. In one attack, a cluster of bombs fell among them, killing Deakin's radio operator, Bill Stuart, Tito's Alsatian dog, 'Maks', and wounding both Tito and Deakin.
The Operation Typical group were disbanded at the end of September 1943 and absorbed into the mission of Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Deakin's impressive reporting on the situation from on the ground is considered to have had a decisive impact on British policy towards the support of resistance movements in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(although the significant role of intelligence decrypts was not revealed until the 1970s, see Yugoslavia and the Allies
Yugoslavia and the Allies
In 1941 when the Axis invaded Yugoslavia, King Peter II formed a Government in exile in London, and in January 1942 the royalist Draža Mihailović became the Minister of War with British backing. But by June or July 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had decided to withdraw support from...
).
He was assigned the role of Literary Assistant to Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
during the years 1936-40, and the period 1945-55. He was described by Churchill's biographer, Sir Martin Gilbert
Martin Gilbert
Sir Martin John Gilbert, CBE, PC is a British historian and Fellow of Merton College, University of Oxford. He is the author of over eighty books, including works on the Holocaust and Jewish history...
, as being "at the centre of the web of all Churchill's literary efforts."
Subsequently, Deakin completed several historical works, drawing upon his experiences during both the Second World War and his time with Churchill. His publications include numerous articles on Yugoslavia, as well as The Brutal Friendship, published in 1962. The latter was a detailed examination of German-Italian relations during World War II, and revealed Deakin not only as a formidable historian of diplomacy, but also, in his assessment of the death of Italian fascism, a notable political analyst. He was later editor, with his friend Alan Bullock
Alan Bullock
Alan Louis Charles Bullock, Baron Bullock , was a British historian, who wrote an influential biography of Adolf Hitler and many other works.-Early life and career:...
, of two series of historical texts, The British Political Tradition and The Oxford History of Modern Europe
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
.
In 1950, he was appointed as the first Warden (or principal) of the new St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.St Antony's is the most international of the seven all-graduate colleges of the University of Oxford, specialising in international relations, economics, politics, and history of particular parts of the...
. He remained in this role until 1968, when he was succeeded by another historian, Raymond Carr
Raymond Carr
Sir Albert Raymond Maillard Carr FBA FRHS FRSL , known as Raymond Carr, is an English historian specializing in the history of Spain, Latin America, and Sweden who was Warden of St Antony's College, Oxford, from 1968 to 1987....
, who had been appointed as his Sub-Warden in 1966.
In 1963 Deakin returned to Montenegro to perform research for his wartime memoir of fighting with Tito's army. His memoir was published as The Embattled Mountain the title referring to Mount Durmitor, the environs of which Deakin and Tito's army had been pursued over by German and Italian forces; see Battle of the Sutjeska
See also
- Sir Fitzroy Maclean
- Special Operations ExecutiveSpecial Operations ExecutiveThe Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
- Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
- Josip Broz
- Partisans (Yugoslavia)Partisans (Yugoslavia)The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
- Yugoslavia and the AlliesYugoslavia and the AlliesIn 1941 when the Axis invaded Yugoslavia, King Peter II formed a Government in exile in London, and in January 1942 the royalist Draža Mihailović became the Minister of War with British backing. But by June or July 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had decided to withdraw support from...
- Atomic bomb