By July 1945, much of the world was still at war; Germany had surrendered in May, but death and destruction reigned in the Pacific, as Japan continued to resist at every turn. Churchill’s conservative party had been in power since 1935 and had the baggage of every unpopular prewar decision, as well as the aftermath of the war to overcome. Many British cities – especially London – were heavily damaged by German bombs and nearly six years of fighting had bankrupted the country. The Labour Party swept into power that year, and Churchill’s conservatives did not retake control until 1951.