How do you see Dunkirk? Was it a victory, a defeat or somewhere in the middle?
@anthonybowyer18743 жыл бұрын
For me it was the mole that made Dunkirk possible; another example of British ingenuity.
@HankD133 жыл бұрын
It was a victory - if only in the fact it was not a catastrophic defeat. The loss of the entire BEF would almost certainly knocked Britain out of the war - and that leads to how the rest of the WW2 would have turned out? It would be interesting see how that would have gone. Axis control of Egypt/Suez and middle eastern oil? No fortress UK or bombing campaign of German industry? The fall of France let the Japanese into Vietnam - so what of Malaya and India? Would love to see some serious speculation regarding that "what if".
@tobyjohnson12393 жыл бұрын
Victory
@edgehodl48323 жыл бұрын
how can a retreat be victory??? they literally ran from germans. when is running away intead of fighting is considered heroism?? oh wait, that was in france, now i geg it
@timphillips99543 жыл бұрын
@@HankD13 Yep I love all this Brit hatters on here!
@The8224sm3 жыл бұрын
The French put up a staunch rear guard action to prevent the Germans from over running the port. Suffering heavy losses for which they received little recognition.
@stephenfreestone17462 жыл бұрын
Because they switched sides and bent over for the Germans
@HankD13 Жыл бұрын
Every account I have ever read gives great credit to the French rear guard action by French units + the 140,000 French troops evacuated to help form the core of Free French forces.
@redpink9773 Жыл бұрын
Generally the Brits only talk/teach their own good deeds. If it was the other way around, imagine what the Brits would say. When the Brits flea and abandon their allies its "an evacuation". But when the french don't stand and fight to the last man the Brits say their cowards
@HankD13 Жыл бұрын
@@redpink9773 Every book I have read on Dunkirk gives due credit to the French rear-guard action. Some French units fought extremely well - but they were a minority. Most French divisions collapsed almost immediately - leadership being the problem. French tanks, Souma 35 in particular (over 400 of them) were amongst the best tanks in the Allied army - Britain sent 23 Matilda II - all other British tanks only had machine guns. The Boys anti-tank rifle was the standard AT weapon - totally useless. The only real counter attack at Arras destroyed the British Armoured Brigade - and despite the plan, the French did not support it. After that, it was all over. 10 German Panzer division and control of the air - the French army, and the Belgium army collapsed. British troops do not fight to the death - they surrender when there is no longer hope of achieving anything - thank God. Hardcore Nazi or Japanese bushido is not the way to do it.
@walideg5304 Жыл бұрын
@@HankD13in this video and in the Dunkirk movie, the French sacrifice is barely mentioned. No French divisions sacrifice = no miracle. That’s all,
@jerome5ify3 жыл бұрын
I live in Dunkirk, thanks for this piece of history and the British allies
@noefanielle7051 Жыл бұрын
Don't forget the French that cover the escape off the brit
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
I don't thanks those who backstab and run away .
@thomsboys773 ай бұрын
@@300routasydan2 Keep crying, like the frogs 🤣
@1jeanclaude3 жыл бұрын
Remember the 30,000+ French Soldiers who stopped the German Army just to give enough time for the evacuation...
@frankanderson50123 жыл бұрын
True. There are so many things like that which are often overlooked, that in particular as it’s often thought the French just gave up. There’s also the many units of British solders tasked to hold some of the roads leading to Dunkirk open, even though they knew it was almost certain death. The Germans only halted on a strategic level, not on a local. Or that Dunkirk wasn’t the only evacuation, there were others after. Or that troops were planned to be re-landed in France to keep helping the French, or that the French Air Force and RAF were actually quite successful during the battle leading up to and including Dunkirk.
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
Remember the near 60,000 British troops who didn't make it back as well.
@daneelolivaw6023 жыл бұрын
And remember also, the 120,000 French troops who were rescued, leaving many thousands of British soldiers behind.
@Bruce-19563 жыл бұрын
Remember the 51st Highland Division who spent the war as POWs.
@andygallie62633 жыл бұрын
@@Bruce-1956 Quite right Bruce. My father was at St Valery and was a POW until April 1945. 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.
@sophrapsune3 жыл бұрын
Just because it is a “myth” does not mean it was false. It was still a magnificent achievement, and nothing can detract from that.
@xsailor853 жыл бұрын
History becomes legend & legend becomes myth over the passage of time.
@iansneddon29562 жыл бұрын
Agreed. An evacuation on such a scale was unprecedented, until it happened.
@petekadenz94652 ай бұрын
Yes it was. But the evacuation was the end result of a humiliating defeat.
@sailendrayalamanchili41263 жыл бұрын
The BEF put up a terrific fight while retreating in an orderly manner to Dunkirk. A network of canals surounding Dunkirk were used to flood large areas to slow down German armour. Ultimately the BE F remained a cohesive fighting force and did not disintegrate despite tremendous pressure. lord Gort's decision to organise a fighting retreat to Dunkirk, despite contrary and confused orders to reinforce the French Army, was crucial, and offcourse the heroic efforts of the RAF, and the Royal Navy, to fend off the Luftwaffe , which tried its level best to prevent the evacuation were instrumental in making operation Dynamo such a success.
@jetaddicted3 жыл бұрын
Bla bla bla. The BEF abandonned its Indians to the Germans, left the front lines without informing either the French or the Belgians, sending thousands of those to a certain death after having promised an artillery cover that never came since the BEF was “orderly” retreating. Stop the wank, mate.
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
jetaddicted, Stop trolling and spouting nonsense, 'mate'.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@jetaddicted Which Indians? There were around 600 Indian (Muslim) mule handlers, in four companies. Three companies were evacuated, although the fourth, on detached duty on the Maginot Line, was captured. Those who reached Britain were actually honoured with marches through a number of towns (the newspapers of the time confirm this), and Britain's, the toy firm, even produced models of them, for heaven's sake. Actually, when the Belgians surrendered, a British Division, commanded by Montgomery, as it happens, undertook a difficult night transfer to block the resulting gap in the allied line. I have never understood why people like you, with no actual knowledge, insist upon displaying you ignorance and prejudice in such a manner. Perhaps you might try to explain?
@davidsweeney40213 жыл бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 He could try reading, perhaps?
@profesercreeper3 жыл бұрын
The British pulling back to Dunkirk created a giant gap in the allied defense which the French somehow had to cover. There was a lack of coordination with the French wanting to counter attack with the British wanting to retreat. The evacuation was only made possible by the French putting such a stiff resistance that time was bought for the evacuation even if they knew they themselves may not be able to escape.
@z_actual3 жыл бұрын
Undoubtably, the Halt order had the greater role. It gave the Brits and the French that 3 and a half days to prepare defences around Dunkirk which meant the Wehrmacht couldnt break through and overrun the beaches. Despite what people say, the French put up a sterling and selfless defence so that others would go free
@CIMAmotor3 жыл бұрын
Nearly 100 thousand French were taken off the beaches too.
@manilajohn01823 жыл бұрын
Very well said...
@pwisblue.66993 жыл бұрын
Over 70000 British soldiers were left behind as rearguard also.
@CIMAmotor3 жыл бұрын
@@pwisblue.6699 I didn't know that.
@pwisblue.66993 жыл бұрын
@@CIMAmotor Yes the French conviently overlook that .
@jimmalachowsky40523 жыл бұрын
The halt order obviously had the largest impact, but it was perfectly understandable. German generals were concerned about counterattacks to their vulnerable flanks. They wanted to bring up much more infantry to protect the flanks. Many German troops were exhausted. They had been fighting continuously for almost three weeks. They needed some rest. Much German equipment was damaged or destroyed. They wanted to use the time to repair and replace equipment. The Germans thought there was no need to hurry. They thought it was just a matter of time before they would destroy the surrounded troops. Something often overlooked is the spirited defense of Dunkirk by many French troops. Especially when you consider that they knew they would not be evacuated, and their fate would be either to be killed or captured!
@user-fc3kw1zy1n2 жыл бұрын
I used this on my project and got an A, thanks
@lordbossharrow3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this quality content! This channel honestly deserves more views.
@lachlanwelsh58803 жыл бұрын
Yep, can’t agree with you more! Small comfort, but something; I will be exploring ALL the content on this channel over the weeks to come. Hence, at least one viewer from Australia will provide ‘views’, and I will be telling my friends that are interested in this sort of history to join us. Subscribed, enjoying, and sharing from Melbourne, Australia. Thank you all!!!
@simongrover18193 жыл бұрын
Most important reason was the organisation of The evacuation by the Royal Navy! Captain Tennants work at the Admiralty before the evacuation began in earnest organising charts and crews is often overlooked
@michaelcoe98243 жыл бұрын
What about the 900 plus sorties by the RAF to keep German aircraft away from the beach?
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
There were also long periods during which, as an inevitable result of Park's Squadron Patrol policy, there was no air cover.
@HankD133 жыл бұрын
"The coming together of a series of circumstances which played into the hands of Britain".... sounds pretty miraculous to me. All the bits that had to come together in the right order to make it work - happy to call it a miracle personally.
@MrDaiseymay3 жыл бұрын
Can you imagine the Americans pulling their heroic military achievements to pieces ? these arseholes should be put in the STOCKS
@pauldavidson18663 жыл бұрын
Not to mention the national day of prayer led by the King...
@Charlesputnam-bn9zy3 жыл бұрын
@@pauldavidson1866 That Is WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT The Miracle Of Dunkirk.
@Charlesputnam-bn9zy3 жыл бұрын
@ Ian H2 GOD'S HAND ORDAINS The Events.
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
@@Charlesputnam-bn9zy😂😂😂 retarded Francophobic the only miracle was that french stand while british ran away 😂😂😂
@PitFriend13 жыл бұрын
Like many military victories it was a combination of skill, desperation, courage, and a huge dose of luck.
@Plab14022 жыл бұрын
Not really you see some french soilders had to be left in dunkirt
@Rohilla3132 жыл бұрын
It wasn’t a victory though. We have to accept it for what it was - a “colossal disaster” to paraphrase Churchill. The evacuation was a marvel of planning, improvisation and logistics, no doubt, but calling Dunkirk a victory just makes us look bad.
@CyrilleParis3 жыл бұрын
You mentionned the French soldiers rsisting fiercely in Lille. You shoud also have mentionned the French soldiers who were in the outskirts on Dunkirk, fighting the Germans to the last man, enabling the English Army to escape.
@jonathansimmons53532 жыл бұрын
With 120000 french soldiers. For once france puts up solid resistance to protect its lands
@CyrilleParis2 жыл бұрын
@@jonathansimmons5353 "For once" ruins your comment.
@walideg5304 Жыл бұрын
@@jonathansimmons5353for once ? Are you kindling ?
@justicesomeday3 жыл бұрын
.....it worked great....thxs to my grandfather too....French hero.....his name was Henri Gruart....brigadier chef de la DGC1...May and June 1940
@timw51083 жыл бұрын
During this evacuation, my mother was 12 years old living in Southampton. I do not know how many of the troops were taken there, to Southampton, but she was going to the market with her mother, they came round a corner, and saw hundreds of exhausted French soldiers sleeping in this little park. They all had their rifles, but little or nothing else. Blood-stained bandages, drawn faces, filthy after everything they'd been through, she never forgot it.
@jammer36183 жыл бұрын
Let's not forget that over 120 civilian men and boys who crewed the little ships were killed. Even by the numbers of this doc, 110k were taken off the beaches by small boats. I have never seen an accurate number of how many soldiers were taken from Dunkirk to England by the little ships.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
Try 'The War at Sea, 1939 - 1945' by Captain Roskill. The total number of troops brought back to Britain by 'Small Craft' was 6,029, with a further 4,726 by lighters and barges. The Whitehall Histories, Naval Staff Histories, 'The Evacuation from Dunkirk' has a broadly similar number. Despite the legend, perpetrated in the recent disappointing movie, the Little ships were there to ferry troops from the open beaches to larger ships waiting offshore. A typical destroyer of the period rarely had more than a couple of whalers and a motor boat.
@amadeokomnenus14143 жыл бұрын
What enabled the allied evacuation? The halt order, the defence of Lille and the stalwart defence of the Dunkirk perimeter by the French army.
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
Without the RAF and Royal Navy none would have gotten away, including 100,000 French
@sophrapsune3 жыл бұрын
Yes. Oh, and the superb performance of British forces under extreme pressure.
@parodyclip363 жыл бұрын
@@lyndoncmp5751 Well without the French and Belgian desperate defence also none would have escaped so potatoes potatoe
@Trebor743 жыл бұрын
@@lyndoncmp5751 it was 200,000 British and 150000 French, hardly the abandonment of our French allies that some like to preach on here 🙄
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
@@parodyclip36 Without the French and Belgian collapse in the first place the BEF would never have been in that situation to begin with.
@taxidude3 жыл бұрын
Let's be honest, it was turned into a popaganda victory but militarily it was a defeat! Had we lost the war, one or two would not be remembered quite so fondly!
@stevphenrose78203 жыл бұрын
The British Army did very well considering dealing with the German tactics. The RAF were at their range limit. The Royal Navy was the main reason that the evacuation was a success. The Senior service lived up to its name.
@jamespatagueule45992 жыл бұрын
nope
@sharonprice42 Жыл бұрын
Churchill said it was a humiliating defeat, it was a total disaster
@Caratacus13 жыл бұрын
Arras. The halt order was due to the British counter-attack at Arras. Rommel panicked and reported hysterically to high command that he was 'under attack by hundreds of invulnerable tanks' (his AT guns couldn't penetrate the handful of Matilda II tanks involved). Hitler had always suspected that his luck would run out and he knew what had happened in WW1 when the over-extended German advance was stopped on the Marne. Therefore thanks to what he was hearing from Rommel in Arras Hitler had the perfect excuse to halt everything. Dunkirk was by far Germany's best single chance of winning the war. They had no realistic chance of invading Britain due to the relative size of the opposing navies. Therefore Germany was doomed to slow strangulation by blockade as in WW1 or else a two-front war with Russia. As such Dunkirk was a decisive victory for the Allies, possibly the most important of the war. All MHO 😁
@edgehodl48323 жыл бұрын
way to twist facts, so u think dunkirk was most important victory? how can a retreat be a victory?? considering majority of german armies were defeated in russia, u convieniently overlook battle of moscow, stalingrad, kursk.
@zackdyny36773 жыл бұрын
It was halt by von rundstendt and von kluge because their geman tank army suffer 50% attrition, line very thin and flank very expose to the enemy , their don't have any single infantry support or artillery and very vulnerable. If the german tank attack dunkirk without infantry or artillery support , it would be very vulnerable of at gun or tank in the narrow street and they would suffer heavy tank casualties.
@manilajohn01823 жыл бұрын
Arras had nothing to do at all with the German decision to halt. Von Rundstedt ordered the halt because von Kluge felt that his troops were too strung out and von Kleist was concerned over his losses in armor (the vast majority of which were due to breakdowns). While worry over the rapid advance did have something to do with his decision, the primary reason why Hitler endorsed von Rundstedt's halt order was that he was incensed that von Brauchitsch had switched command of 4th Army (including the bulk of the armor) in von Rundstedt's Army Group A to von Bock's Army group B without first consulting the Fuhrer. A signal indication of this can be seen in the fact that when Hitler finally lifted his objection to a resumption of the German advance, he left the final decision on when this advance would resume NOT to the C- in- C of the Army von Brauchitsch ( a man for whom Hitler had nothing but disdain) but to von Rundstedt- who was only an Army group commander. When von Brauchitsch informed von Rundstedt that he could resume his advance, von Rundstedt refused, citing Hitler's earlier instructions authoring the final decision as being up to C- in- C of Army Group A. To sum up, Hitler wanted to show the Army high command who was in charge, and von Rundstedt abetted this stupidity by being an ass- just because he could. Goering supported Hitler's decision by assuring the Fuhrer that the Luftwaffe could destroy the Allied forces trapped in the pocket. In this case German senior leadership was their own worst enemy- and the Allies benefitted from it greatly
@asfiaa55013 жыл бұрын
@@edgehodl4832 do you not know the difference between a victory and a decisive victory because Dunkirk was a decisive victory
@change_your_oil_regularly42873 жыл бұрын
@@edgehodl4832 "Dunkirk was by far Germany's best single chance of winning the war" He meant the war against Britain not the war as a whole. Maybe stop being so hostile and use your head a bit more. Everyone knows most of the heavy lifting in WW2 was done by the Red Army you aren't informing anyone of this information including the OP. My unqualified unasked for 2 cents
@lynnwood72053 жыл бұрын
The British did not lose their nerve.
@GrinnenBaeritt3 жыл бұрын
The "True" Miracle was perhaps actually the part played by the now unfortunately infamous "Southern Railways". It was forced to deal with the thousands of troops evacuated from France and brought to English Ports over a matter of a few days... little is ever mentioned about how exactly all these troops were then quickly and efficiently transported by rail en-masse back to their homes and barracks. This, if, you compare with the public perception of the modern railways is the real miracle.
@paulinecabbed1271 Жыл бұрын
Also, the part French rail system played in getting more British troops to St Nazaire a few weeks later
@geoffreylee51993 ай бұрын
That London was talking to the Nazis through the Fascists in London is rarely mentioned. The halt outside town was because Parliament said it was willing to entertain a ceasefire with the Nazis. That the Fascists were played was only one small part.
@dovetonsturdee70333 ай бұрын
Nonsense. People like Mosley were a busted flush well before Dunkirk. The Halt Order was given, by von Rundstedt for what he believed at the time were sound tactical reasons. Halifax might have contemplated a ceasefire, but he was never in any position to attempt to establish one.
@MarkHarrison7332 ай бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 Churchill had to imprison Mosley without trial because so many people in the UK supported him. Halifax was a warmonger.
@jonny74913 жыл бұрын
I’ll always remember my English teacher Mr Bullivant describing how he saw as a little boy the little boats setting sail.
@justicesomeday3 жыл бұрын
Because my grand pa...Henri Gruart.... was a good officer there at Dunkirk..... (brigadier en chef de la DGC1 May and June 1940
@jandekker60083 жыл бұрын
I saw Paul and thought I recognised him from somewhere. Then I remembered. He gave the group I was part of a tour of the IWM's WW1 exhibit in the run-up to our 26 Armistice writing project back in 2018.
@jimcornish223 жыл бұрын
Co presented by my brother Paul. Some very interesting facts and background info.
@johnchristensen40023 жыл бұрын
I do not appreciate the belittling of the civilians who went across in their own boats to help in the evacuation. Like Mr. Lightoller from the Titanic fame who took is yacht across and cramed 100 men on his boat and brought them to safety. There were many such stories as this. The success was due to the combined efforts of everyone who took part.
@solentbum3 жыл бұрын
I don't find the video belittling of the 'small boats' or their crews, but the fact remains that the majority of men were taken out of Dunkirk on larger ships esp. Destroyers. The whole operation was under the control of the Royal Navy, together with the French Navy. The civilians involved were of course 'signed up' for the operation to comply with legal requirements , such as their right to be treated as prisoners of war if captured, and compensation,. There was great bravery shown by many of those civilians, and unfortunately some cowardice. In all the Dunkirk evacuation was a good example of what a well trained military can do in extremis.
@michaeldowson69883 жыл бұрын
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was about to disembark at the Port of Boulogne when Rommel encircled the French and British forces. They were rushed across the Channel to disembark on the English Coast instead. Those troop ships may have been available for the Dunkirk escape. The Canadian Army wasn't any better trained or equipped than the British, so wouldn't have been much help in France at that stage.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
The Canadians were part of the 'Reconstituted BEF' which began landing at Cherbourg on 7 June, but were withdrawn after Weygand told Alan Brooke, the commander, that the French army was no longer able to provide organised resistance.
@MarkHarrison7332 ай бұрын
The flight from Dunkirk was the worst defeat Britain had ever suffered.
@carlostommybaggs57632 жыл бұрын
It is often overlooked that the BEF was effectively disarmed by the retreat from Dunkirk. With the exception of their very capable riffles (infantrymen can be extraordinarily stubborn about their own particular riffle for very good reason), the army was finally forced to re-equip and modernise, as they perhaps should have done during the late 1930's. Oddly, we now have the idea that Germany could have just walked into Britain, but this thinking ignores the fact that the Germans did not have control of the seas around Britain.
@richardburke31873 жыл бұрын
Hi. Thanks for this concise video giving a great explanation for the success of the Dunkirk evacuation. Would be very interested to know if the exact location has ever been identified of that famous clip showing abandoned and burning vehicles on both sides of the road as the movie maker negotiates their way between them? My own amateur theory is the Bergues-Dunkirk road, somewhere along the present-day D 916, at a place where there is cemetery on the left, not far from Dunkirk. Thanks again, Richard Burke
@samueldamuel16893 жыл бұрын
we never would of done it without the french, we’ve got to remember not all of them wave white flags when they see Germans. They held on and lost thousands trying to help their British Dutch and Belgian allies escape
@AbelMcTalisker2 жыл бұрын
Not to mention all the French troops also rescued at Dunkirk that were immediately sent back via Cherbourg to continue fighting.
@Deevo0373 жыл бұрын
Puts me in mind of the Gallipoli evacuation.
@trevermcdonald24026 ай бұрын
My father spoke little about the war, he joined the Coldstream Guards in 1938, the second battalion was part of the British Expidition Force (BEF). When they neared Dunkirk they were ordered to act as rear guard to hold the line against the German advance, his company were stationed at a farm, which they did the best they could to fortify with carts and other farm machinery and sacks etc, they also cleared the bushes to allow them to bring fire onto the enemy. The germans did advance and were beaten back with the one Brenton they had and their 303 rifles. The Germans had set up two machine gun, about five hundred yards away , their fire sounded like ripping canvas, so fast could they spit out bullets compared to the Bren which much slower but very much more accurate, taking out one of the German machine guns. It was not until they brought up some large guns that their position became untenable but they stayed put until told to pull back. They passed through the second line of defence manned by the French, fortunately they had artillery and put up a good defense allowing my father and the remains of his company to reach Dunkirk. By the time they reached the beaches, the boats were evacuating not just British troops but the French also. They climbed over lorries and small trucks which had been driven out at low tide to make piers for men to scramble over. They were picked up by one of the civilian boats and taken to a destroyer which was laying off shore, he remembers being given a hot cup of Coco and a thick sandwich of Bull Beef, they were attacked by the Luftwaffe and several men were killed or wounded but they managed to land at the end of Margate pier. They were lined up and marched along the seafront to the railway station, British and French alike. My father always spoke highly of the French, they helped make it possible for him and hundreds of other soldiers to reach safety.
@piratedjradio3 жыл бұрын
My father was one of the last soldiers to be rescued from the beach at Dunkirk because he couldn't swim , as children he had us all taught to swim, i don't think he ever wanted us to be in a similar situation, I often wonder if my father has any entitlement to any decorations for his service
@piratedjradio2 жыл бұрын
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 my father after he was rescued from dunkirk was sent to north africa then to italy i dont know to much about his war service with REME he died the day after my 18th birthday and it was difficult to get him to talk about his war service and now ill probably never know
@piratedjradio2 жыл бұрын
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 thank you and yes yt has done that to me many times its as you say infuriating , i will contact the MOD to see if i can squire his war records, as for the medals i have never seen them after the war he became a bus driver and received medals for safe driving with several date bars, those are the only medals ive seen, they say war is hell and im sure your uncle would have found it terrifying like my father, we went on a family holiday to france and one day made a visit to dunkirk, my dad was always laughing and happy but that day he was very sombre and we didnt get a word out of him, i think we went so that he could lay a few ghosts to rest. when we were children he had us all taught to swim i think he was making sure that if we ever got into a similar situation we could better cope, Your Uncle and my father are hero's in every sense
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
Being decorated to have flew from the Battlefield.wonderful demonstration of bravery 😂😂😂😂 but it's not a secret : brittish have not honour in War
@sheilbwright76493 жыл бұрын
The little boats. The tendency to give primacy to what is measurable. I would guess that being able to see the efforts of the little boats would give heart to those awaiting rescue even if they were on the mole and stiffen the resolve of those aboard the large RN ships and give both groups a source of pride. The raw numbers miss this entirely.
@chrisvickers79283 жыл бұрын
Nolan's movie was a amazing, despite it's in accuracies (and they were few).
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
Completely mis-understanding the real role of the 'Little Ships,' more or less forgetting the Royal Navy, and rather exaggerating the actual role of Fighter Command, to name three, were not minor inaccuracies.
@petekadenz94652 ай бұрын
It was of course great that so many soldiers were evacuated from France at Dunkirk. But we should not forget that it was the culmination of a humiliating defeat for the British Expeditionary Force in France.
@trainsontuesday3 жыл бұрын
I don't think you can give any of the circumstances more importance over the others. They were all fortuitous and un planned. You might ask what might have happened if the British had been able to get the equipment off as well but they didn't get a fourth circumstance that allowed it. A victory out of defeat is better than a defeat out of victory. Miracle sums it up quite well I think.
@andrewmcconnell24382 жыл бұрын
Factual and analytical but what is amazing is that an explanation of the success of the Dunkirk evacuation omits the key factor; command of the Channel by the Royal Navy!
@krisaaron57713 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know if this actually happened or is just a legend: Some of the Luftwaffe pilots refused to fire on the smaller unarmed civilian rescue boats, saying it was “not the act of a gentleman” and therefore beneath them. Others shot into the sand rather than gun down the thousands of exposed and helpless Allied soldiers lined up on the beach to be rescued. It was still early in the war, Hitler was winning, and Germany's aviation aristocracy could afford to be magnanimous in victory.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
Legend. The Luftwaffe was the most 'nazi' of the German armed forces. It failed badly at Dunkirk, despite Goering's promise to Hitler that the destruction of the pocket was 'a special job for the Luftwaffe,' made on 23 May.
@michaelcauser4742 жыл бұрын
Dunkirk brings up mixed feelings for me. My dad and his brother Tome were on that beach. Dad. in the RASC was evacuated, but Uncle Tom was one of those left behind. Tom was taken to a PoW camp in Poland, and the first thing that happened to him and his comrades there was that all their teeth were knocked out by the guards. When anyone queried why, they were simply told that "we are doing you a favour as the food here is so bad that your teeth will all be rotten within a few months." it took until after 2000 for my nephew to get them to open up about some of their experiences as I never found out any of this first hand. Dad would occasionally tell us about a couple of his larikin adventures, but I have since found out that even these were sugar coated and the events were not as much fun as he let on.
@timelordtardis2 жыл бұрын
That he was in a PoW camp in Poland suggests that he was involved in 'The Long March'. As the Russians advanced, the camps were emptied of PoWs and they were force marched across Europe in one of the worst winters. You are quite correct none of it was fun.
@petertompkinson56223 жыл бұрын
Definitely the weather.
@Bruce-19563 жыл бұрын
The 51st Highland Division is as usual forgotten.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
As best I recall, 51st HD weren't at Dunkirk. They were attached to the French IX Corps, which surrendered at St. Valery before the RN task force sent to evacuate 51HD was able to enter the port.
@remittanceman468515 күн бұрын
Yes there is a lot of mythology about Dunkirk, probably that's understandable, but as to the "halt order" I suspect it's simply misunderstanding. The German's had pulled off a huge strategic feat in making the allies commit to an advance into Belgium then outflanking them. But while they had cut off the entire BEF, they had only cut off one of several French armies. In 1939 and 1940 the French army was still held to be one of the most powerful in the world. Even Hitler thought Fall Gelb would not force the capitulation of France. Instead they had driven back the French First Army and the BEF and trapped them in the channel ports. The terrain was not favourable to a further assault, being cut by canals and waterworks and the Germans had suffered more heavily than anticipated taking the much more lightly held ports of Calais and Boulogne. They, like the Royal Navy, did not think the men at Dunkirk could be evacuated especially as the Luftwaffe dominated the skies over the beaches so why not leave them in what was, in their eyes, a very big PoW camp until more important things were deal with? Fall Rot was the plan to deal with the as yet uncommitted French forces south of Paris and the panzers and infantry of Army Groups A and B were tired, battle worn and badly needed both refitting and reorientation to face what the German high command believed was a far more dangerous threat.. Those, I believe are the real reasons the Germans did not push their advantage at Dunkirk. They figured the force there was defeated and trapped and the real danger now came from the south. The plan was to keep the men at Dunkirk bottled up with a few divisions, use the Luftwaffe to keep the Royal Navy away and use the rested and refitted panzers to execute Fall Rot.
@BubbleGendut3 жыл бұрын
Interesting. Post Dunkirk is not often discussed. The fate of remaining BEF in France. That two divisions were sent back to France and the final evacuations saving about 200 000
@dovetonsturdee70332 жыл бұрын
The last British troops were evacuated on 25 June, from French Atlantic ports as part of Operation Aerial. The 'Reconstituted BEF' landed in Cherbourg from 7 June, and withdrawn after General Weygand had said that the French army was no longer able to offer organised resistance, is rarely mentioned as it doesn't meet the myth of 'Perfidious Albion' running away.
@sharonprice42 Жыл бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 Operation Aerial was to pick up the remaining troops that were left behind at Dunkirk and were waiting to be rescued at other ports .look up the Lancastrian ship , that was a bit of bad luck .The Germans had an unfair advantage as they had been building up a large army even though they had signed up not to after ww1
@samlawson3032 жыл бұрын
would love to visit the place such a pivotal moment in recent history
@phlm9038 Жыл бұрын
If you get the chance to visit the place, go to the beaches of Zuydcoote and of Bray-Dunes (this latter being the last French town before Belgium). At low tide you can still spot the shipwrecks of the "Crested Eagle" (Zuydcoote) and of the "Devonia" (Bray-Dunes).
@sergarlantyrell78473 жыл бұрын
Possibly another contribution was that the German Blitzkrieg army hadn't slept for days & was being sustained by liberal amounts of methamphetamine, while that was what had made the rapid pace of advance possible, they were at some point going to crash HARD. Should this coincide with a French & British counter-attack, then there was a possibility that the German spearhead could have been annihilated.
@laurakuhn87432 жыл бұрын
Charles Lightoller is a legend.
@landsea7332 Жыл бұрын
In terms of the defensive perimeter - as of May 30th 1940 - the French army held the perimeter from the canals near Gravelines to Bergues the BEF held the perimeter from Bergues to Nieuport. The Belgian army capitulated on May 28th. Approx . 238,000 BEF and more than 100,000 French and Belgian solders were evacuated from May 26th to June 4th, 1940 . .
@jackkruese42583 жыл бұрын
I’m not claiming to be a historian but I ve always thought that the Germans pretty much let the Brits go, evidenced by their halt order. Reason being that as the Brits had lost and left they’d now sue for peace. Just a thought.
@markhitchcock47043 жыл бұрын
OMG Man you can't be voicing that!!..how could they continue to perpetuate the myth of how Hitler wanted to conquer the whole of Europe(and the World mwwwaahhh) with that kind of talk eh??.
@phlm90383 жыл бұрын
It seems more logical that the Germans would have had much more grip on the British Government if they had taken the BEF prisoners. Look how they have been constantly blackmailing The Vichy Government into doing things with the French prisoners of war detained in Germany, Poland and Austria.
@dovetonsturdee70332 жыл бұрын
@@markhitchcock4704 You can say it, but it wouldn't be true. The Halt Order was issued by Von Rundstedt, to allow his armour to be serviced and repaired before commencing the second stage of the campaign. Like many senior officers, he feared a repeat of the Miracle of the Marne of WW1. Hitler had already been assured by Goering that the destruction of the Allied pocket was 'a special job for the Luftwaffe,' and was foolish enough to believe him. Surely, if you want your enemy to come to terms, wouldn't there be more chance of that were his field army to be caged in PoW camps, rather than safe behind an impenetrable sea barrier? If your lovable peacefully intentioned Hitler was not intent upon conquering the whole of Europe, did the invasions of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Belgium, all take place without his knowledge?
@DilanQuill3 жыл бұрын
I've heard that part of the reason for the halt order was the german supply chains being overstretched because of how fast they made progress with that blitzkrieg. Is there any truth to this?
@jamesavenell23683 жыл бұрын
Yes that is correct, they overstretched in their advance.
@Mackenzie0022 жыл бұрын
Well I heard that Hitler stopped the attack so they could make peace with Britain
@kalabala55452 жыл бұрын
Germans did let the 300,000 soldiers escape. They came back & took their revenge. A soldier should not run like cowards to save his life. Instead he should fight to death. By the time the Germans realised their mistake, it was too late. Anyway, that is also interesting to hear.
@redpink9773 Жыл бұрын
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 They were running like cowards. It was also an evacuation. They were steadfastly protecting Britain. They were also hiding on their island
@the7train2702 жыл бұрын
My great great grandfather was in the Dunkirk evacuation but he died
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
At least he haven't flewed , it's honorable
@laurakuhn87432 жыл бұрын
One of the best books on this event is Walter Lord's Miracle at Dunkirk. I subscribed. Great channel
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
Lol a brittish to speak about a battle where they've flewed 😂😂😂😂 hilarious
@fieldmarshall40922 жыл бұрын
Dunkirk was basically a defeat of allies made it look like strategic victory to cheer up the British people Otherwise combined allies got out matched by Germany
@landsea7332 Жыл бұрын
It was the BEF attack at Arras that lead to the halt order . The BEF hit the flank of the 3rd , 5th and 7th panzer divisions Rommel personally directed the 88mm guns , stopping the BEF 's tanks and advance. But then Rommel reported they were hit by 100' s of tanks and 5 BEF divisions . The German generals in Army group A ordered a halted to their advance , to consolidate and let the infantry catch up . At the OKW , von Brauchitsch thought army group A were loosing an opportunity , so he transferred the panzer divisions to army group B. Goering phones Hitler and they agree the Luftwaffe should finish off the BEF and French 1st army . Hitler visits von Runschedt at army group A headquarters , finds out that the panzer divisions had been transferred without his permission - he is not happy . von Brauchitsch meets with Hitler and Hitler explains things with no room for misinterpretation. Hitler issues a halt order and transfers the panzers back to army group A. von Rundschedt orders the tanks to get rolling again , but all of this causes a 3 day delay . .
@ironmantooltime3 жыл бұрын
The RAF stopped the Luftwaffe - had they had air superiority to bomb the beaches it would have been disaster. The RAF lost something like 500 planes over France inside Dunkirk and above it including the first outing for one Supermarine Spitfire, which shook things up a bit
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
Not quite. Even Fighter Command's historical website details the long periods during which there was no air cover. Estimates of RAF losses over Dunkirk vary between 106 & 177 of all types. The RAF Museum estimate just over 100 aircraft lost. The Museum account also states :- The measure of Fighter Command’s success, however, is not in the destruction of enemy aircraft but the extent to which it defended the evacuation. Initially, the RAF attempted to provide continuous air cover, but faced with large German formations it adapted its tactics and instead looked to provide air cover in strength - with patrols involving four squadrons - but not continuous air cover. The move from stronger patrols at less frequent intervals was not successful. The four squadron patrols were often unable to cooperate effectively over Dunkirk. The flying conditions over Dunkirk, with low-cloud and thick smoke, would have taxed pilots experienced in combat operations as part of larger formations. During DYNAMO, it was almost impossible for patrols involving more than two squadrons to maintain contact and fight together. By the time the patrol had reached the French coast the squadrons had become separated and the patrols broke up into single, or pairs of squadrons, with part of the patrol below the cloud cover whilst others, having initially been instructed to provide top cover, flew above it. The result was that there was ineffective support between the squadrons at different heights and the force structure of the patrol was wasted. The larger patrols also quickly became disorganised in combat, as the squadrons fragmented into sections, largely dissipating the effect of the patrol. Norman Hancock, a Pilot Officer in No. 1 Squadron, recalled that: ‘You went as a squadron towards your target. You were in appropriate formation but once you’d engaged the enemy then by and large people tended to split up. You might get the odd pair who stayed together, but by and large the squadron was split up and individually attacked targets. You didn’t stay as a solid machine of 12 aeroplanes pointing in the right direction. It didn’t work that way… everybody disappeared. … [After the first attack] there was no cohesion to the squadron.’ The patrols by four squadrons reduced the combat effectiveness of Fighter Command and it is evident that more frequent patrols, involving only two squadrons, would have been more effective. This was a lesson drawn and learnt from the air cover by the officer in charge, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, and he applied that lesson during the Battle of Britain despite the vociferous advocation of larger formations from elsewhere in Fighter Command. Following the move to larger formations there were only two clear days of weather for the Luftwaffe to launch full scale attacks. On the first day, 29 May, the evacuation suffered heavily and the Royal Navy temporarily suspended the use of its modern destroyers - a decision which based on the lift capacity of remaining ships would have left over 100,000 men to be captured. On the second day of clear weather, 1 June, daylight evacuations were suspended. One defence of the RAF’s air cover is that German artillery fire west of Dunkirk was at least as responsible for that decision. A detailed review of the decision behind the suspension indicates this is entirely false.
@bernardhilton35273 жыл бұрын
Bad weather would have made the task impossible.
@keithlillis79622 жыл бұрын
As stated in the video: 338,000 troops were evacuated, 200,000 of which by large ships, that still leaves approximately 100,000 that must have been evacuated by 'the little ships'. This is by no means an insignificant achievement, even if many of the little ships were piloted by Royal Navy crew.
@brendenl252 жыл бұрын
my great uncle steve was involved in operation dynamo during his time in the navy
@stephenhall35153 жыл бұрын
An underestimated (often forgotten) factor is that the RAF attacked the German troops and supply dumps further inland as well as disabling key railways and canals. Supply drops were made to French and British troops and many more were able to get away than via the direct Dunkirk rescue. This was largely the work of Hugh Dowding and quite young staff officers with flying experience and included the use of some very strange planes for such a role. In popular media it is said that many beach troops complained that the RAF was absent but deeper studies based on interviews show that there was knowledge of air action inland. The halt order was probably significantly influenced by RAF action.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
The Halt Order was not influenced at all by RAF action. It was issued by von Rundstedt in order to service and repair his armour, so that he could commence the second stage of his campaign, before there was any risk of a second 'Miracle of the Marne.' Indeed, far from being deterred by the intermittent activity of the RAF, on 23 May Goering had assured Hitler that the destruction of the allied troops around Dunkirk was 'a special job for the Luftwaffe.'
@Nick-133 жыл бұрын
Very interesting broader picture
@casperdog7773 жыл бұрын
As a child my parents generation talked of ''the miracle of Dunkirk''. Clearly, the modern mind can't seem to accept divine providence. I am a Christian and I actually believe that God helped this escape of hundreds of thousands of troops, and it was indeed a true ''miracle of deliverance'' in the summer of 1940. There had been a day of prayer, called for the nation not long before, many millions of British people had prayed for our national situation. Whilst I would be reticent to use this terminology for many events, miracle, is the correct terminology here as far as I am concerned. Thank God for our deliverance. Do you recall the Wormhoudt massacre of unarmed British troops who'd surrendered? Yes? Well, they're would have been many more of these types of massacre incidents in Northern France, had we not got away.
@roland942311 ай бұрын
You may be correct.xx.r.
@300routasydan28 ай бұрын
Your " miracle" was french who were dying while british flewed back home. 😂😂😂 As told , french Can fight for money , british for honour . Each of us fight for what we lack of 😂😂😂😂
@roland94238 ай бұрын
Read books. Enjoy your freedom. HCAAHNY.@@300routasydan2
@manfredgrieshaber86933 жыл бұрын
There is another reason for the halt order. From the very beginning of the german attack via the ardennes each time the tanks crossed a river the high command called for a halt to give the infantry time to close up. Bute the commanders of the tank divisions such as Rommel or Guderian saw their enemies on the run. So they ignored this orders and kept on racing towards the channel. But just as the german forces avanced towards Dunkerque Hitler visited von Rundstedt's headquarter. The Fieldmarshall told Hitler that he had not glue where his tanks were operating in this moment. This made Hitler furious. As a dictator he could not allow his generals to act on their own ideas. In 1940 the Nazi party had not gained overall control of the armed forces. So he ordered a general hold to force his commanders to obey his orders. He had the choice between total victory and his control of the Wehrmacht. He choosed the latter. One must remember the so called Fritsch affair from 1938. The old commander was a typical prussian officer but he disliked the Nazi policy as he feared the outbreak of a war Germany could not win. He was accused of having a sexual relationship with a male prostitute. Homosexuality was a crime at this time. Fritsch resigned but shortly afterwards the police figured out that this hole affair was an intrigue directed by some Nazi party leaders in order to get rid of the unconvenient general.
@martinlewis16423 жыл бұрын
Churchill said at the time wars are not won by evacuations it was not a victory but it was a miracle and a deliverance thank god for Churchill
@phillipshaw17172 жыл бұрын
My father had a ⛵ Sailing Cutter and as a young boy he volunteered & managed get many Men into his Sailing Cutter and sailed back to England 🏴
@seraglioborneo28033 жыл бұрын
The British Exp Force had a large number of men, many tanks and field guns. They could have moved to the south and held Contentin/ Cherbourg Peninsula taking the help of French formations that had not surrendered/ broken yet. And reinforcements could have been sent from UK like airplanes after they hurriedly readied some air strips! Read a book by John Masters, Man of War where the hero does heroic things in the BEF. While contending with chaotic, panicky commands being sent to him multiple times by seniors who were totally unfit to be serving in the BEF! Like Gort! (John Masters retired as a Lt Col from the British Army, so knew what he was writing about)
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
Not so. It was a lost cause as soon as the French and Belgians collapsed.
@seraglioborneo28033 жыл бұрын
[Lyndon CMP] Let us agree to disagree. I agree Belgians surrendered without a fight. But not all French formations collapsed immediately. If some had seen the BEF fighting, joined them and held a secure area like the Cherbourg Peninsula, maybe just maybe the war could have ended 12 m earlier on the western front causing the Germans to yield even on the Eastern front
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@seraglioborneo2803 The British did begin landing troops in Cherbourg as early as 7 June, until Weygand told their commander, Alan Brooke, that the French army was no longer capable of organised resistance.
@seraglioborneo28033 жыл бұрын
[doveton s] I stand corrected. Thanks.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@seraglioborneo2803 Credit to you for your post. Many people seem to feel the need to resort to insults when corrected!
@Althom19902 жыл бұрын
'It's not so much a miracle as a coming together of a series of circumstances which played into the hands of Britain'. Isn't that a pretty good definiton of a miracle?
@henrilannevere78013 жыл бұрын
Messieurs les Anglais....Vous ne savez donc pas que 30 000 soldats Français se sont battus autour de Dunkerque pour protéger l'embarquement des troupes Anglaises ? 6000 d'entre eux ont été tues lors de ces combats ...Mon grand père paternel le sergent Henri .lannevere fait parti,de ces victimes/héros ....un des généraux allemands a rendu hommage aux défenseurs Français de Dunkerque. Je m'appelle Henri en souvenir de ce grand père que je n'ai jamais connu .
@basswomper17853 жыл бұрын
Je suis très conscient que la bravoure et le sacrifice de nos alliés français ont été cruciaux pour la réussite de l'évacuation de Dunkerque. J'ai appris cela de mon père qui a vécu son enfance pendant la guerre et n'a jamais sous-estimé le rôle joué par la France à Dunkerque. Il a adoré visiter la France, tout comme moi. J'utilise Google Translate donc j'espère que cela a du sens !
@vangorp90563 жыл бұрын
“The Dunkirk episode was far worse than was ever realized … The men getting back to England were so demoralized they threw their rifles & equipment out of the windows of railway-carriages. Some sent for their wives & their civilian clothes, changed into these & walked home.” Even Churchill was honest (in private) when he declared to Hugh Dalton, a prominent member of the Labour Party, who later became Minister of Economic Warfare in Churchill’s cabinet, that Dunkirk was “the greatest British military defeat for many centuries.” General Mason-Macfarlane, the head of military intelligence, summoned journalists & told them that they were to inform the British public to blame the French for “not fighting,” & to proclaim that the B.E.F. was “undefeated.” On May 30, 1940, the BBC announced that “men of the undefeated B.E.F. have been coming home from France. They did not come back in triumph, they have come back in glory.”
@jonathansimmons53532 жыл бұрын
120000 francais sauvee. De chez vous .
@ZeigMal Жыл бұрын
Is it only me or does much of the music in the background seem horribly misplaced...?
@Aubury3 жыл бұрын
A disaster, for the BEF. Saved by the skin of their teeth. Plus the valiant French rearguard. All that equipment, of the first mechanised army in the world. Took years to replace.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
No it didn't. By August, 1940, the British already felt able to send the 'Apology' convoy to North Africa. This was a large troop convoy which included three Armoured regiments.
@angloaust15753 жыл бұрын
It could have been avoided if the french had have gone into germany in sept39 when the germans were occupied in poland A quick thrust by the bef also A pincer Attack catching germans off balance No monty there then!
@freakyflow3 жыл бұрын
I think the Germans attacked with such speed And power Churchill And the brass Knew it would be more favored to fight from English shores With a huge water mass around her France was a game of checkers While England was a game of chess Land Sea And Air And WW2 History shown that control of the Air over all Gave that country the edge Churchill also knew this Which is hard for a former Sealord to open thier eyes too And adjust
@j4r4lly223 жыл бұрын
The French and British units fought a well planned rearguard action with some units being ordered to fight to the last man. Indeed, they put up such strong resistance and made the Germans pay such a heavy price that there were several instances of the Germans enacting revenge by executing French and British troops that had surrendered. Read "Dunkirk - Fight To The Last Man" by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore for an excellent understanding of the build up to the evacuations and what actually happened.
@michaelthwaite32822 жыл бұрын
The "myths" that were generated to boost moral in 1940 have, unfortunately, been perpetuated with the likes of Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk". Whilst watchable (especially with the superb music score) it is so wrong on many historical facts. This is especially true with regards to the rearguard actions (British and French) that extended the time available to evacuate so many troops. And the end of C N's film where Kenneth Branagh indicates that he is "waiting for the French" isw pure nonsense. There was no hierarchy of evacuation that saw French troops demoted to the back of the queue!
@richardcrow58273 жыл бұрын
My uncle survived the evacuation. But the reason Hitler told them to stop was because Lord Halifax was negotiating with the Spanish for an armistice but Hitler wanted the British Empire colonilies. And Churchill called it off when most had been evacuated.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
The Halt Order was not issued by Hitler, but by von Rundstedt in order to service and repair his armour, so that he could commence the second stage of his campaign, before there was any risk of a second 'Miracle of the Marne.' Halifax was not negotiating with anyone, although he wished to ask Mussolini to act as an 'independent' broker. After the success of Dunkirk, the Holy Fox was an irrelevance.
@richardcrow58273 жыл бұрын
You are wrong. No body would give and order like that without reference to Hitler told von Runsted to stop. The Germans had fuel from filling stations and plentiful amunition. My father was friendly with Chuter Eade MP and asked him. He told me that is why The Germans stopped. Anthony Eaden, and Douglas Home, both on Chamberlains trip to apease Hitler over the Munich agreement. Halifax was sacked from the wartine cabinet and Eaden was made Forign Secretary. He had served Churchill's use. Ths is not in any history books and has remained secret always. Hitler micro managed always he told von Ronsted to issue the order. Some historians have said that Halifax was negotiating behind Churchills back not so as a junior minister told Chuter Eade what went. Hitler wanted the British Empire not the white Dominions Richard Crow
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@richardcrow5827 You need to read the War Diary of Army Group A. The Germans had no issues with fuel or ammunition, which is why I didn't say that they did. What concerned von Rundstedt was the fact that his armour had covered a significant mileage. He, like many other senior commanders, was eager to begin the second phase. Hitler was at Army Group A's HQ at the time, but agreed with the judgement, firstly because he knew that the Dunkirk area was poor ground for armour, secondly because German infantry was arriving in support, thirdly because he saw an army backed against the sea as trapped, whereas the British saw the sea as an open escape door. Fourthly, but most importantly, Goering had told him, on 23 May, that the elimination of the trapped armies was 'a special job for the Luftwaffe.' 'Ths is not in any history books and has remained secret always.' Oh please! Halifax had been a consistent opponent of Churchill, and had sought to use Mussolini as an intermediary in any peace deal. After Dunkirk, Halifax was more or less an irrelevance, especially after the resignation of Chamberlain due to ill health, when he was the last remaining appeaser in the cabinet, until Churchill managed to dispose of him by making him British ambassador to the United States.
@richardcrow58273 жыл бұрын
I read somewhere many years ago German generals wrote their memoirs to show themselves in good light. The tank crews were on what we call uppers. I can't remember the propper name. I have a copy of 'Over the hill. The tanks could rest for 24 hours not 3 days. You are right about Halifax he never told anyone but i read of was told that Churchill told him to string the Spanish. And Colossus was being broken and it confirmed that Hitler said rest the tank crews. I met a man when sailing around the UK on 2019 and his father told him that Hitler said rest the crews. He was deceived and this was one of the times. But it the truth will never be known. I read Churchills war history smd Montgomery autobiography and another biography and the lesson I learned is those who took part. None mentioned Enigma and Colossus and it was kept secret becsuse the Russians had many Enigma machines and used them modified during the cold war. Also the raid on Dieppe was to capture an Enigma machine for navel communication witb an extra rotor. The raid by the Canadian commandos not as put out for 30 years. It was deception lies for the public Richard Crow
@John-nw8uj3 жыл бұрын
My father was saved at Dunkirk. He said that if jerry had come over immediately after then they would have had no opposition, we had nothing. Lord Gort VC saved the BEF by disobeying his orders to retreat along side the French Army. Gort and Dowding both where savaged by the civilian government for showing the correct military appreciation over their masters plans. John
@lyndoncmp57513 жыл бұрын
If. Jerry didn't have the means to come over immediately after. Didn't have either the air force or navy to overcome the RAF and Royal Navy.
@achimhammerschmitt57883 жыл бұрын
My father fought in Dunkirk and once told me how he received the halt order with his group of german Panzer III tanks. They had the british soldiers their boats and ships in plain sight. They could have shot them down easily with their tanks firepower. They didn't. From a military point of view it was a victorious battle for the german forces. It was not a disastrous, crippling defeat for the BEF since they were finally able to save a majority ofsoldiers and material, but a defeat nevertheless. Thank god for Europe and Germany the luck of war changed and Hitler lost the war. Thank god for me my father survived the french and russian campaign. What the generation of our fathers and grandfathers had to go through!
@youraveragescotsman71193 жыл бұрын
If they had sights of British boats then they probably saw Destroyers. Firing at those would have seen his Panzer group annihilated by 4.7 inch Naval guns, while his Tanks would ping off the Destroyers armour. Also, the German Tanks never got close enough to see the soldiers on the beaches. When they did get close, the British and 110,000 French soldiers had already been evacuated.
@proudhellene58742 жыл бұрын
Humanity lost in 1945. Research and you will see everything about WW2 is a lie.
@j.dmetalhead75172 жыл бұрын
Dunkirk was making the most of a disaster. The planning and resources were pityful by both the French and British high commands. The RAF also helped by keeping the vast majority of the Luftwaffe busy further inland.
@pierredecine19362 жыл бұрын
Germany lost the War because of the success here ! Had the British lost the Core of their Professional Non-Coms, they would have made terms ... The BEF WAS the British Army - had they lost the Men AND the equipment, I think it would have broken them .
@ericbeaton72113 жыл бұрын
Next to no mention of the rearguard that held the perimeter round Dunkirk during the evacuation. No mention of how after the evacuation these guys fought a running battle with the German army to St Valery, and of course no mention of St Valery.
@dovetonsturdee70332 жыл бұрын
St. Valery happened a week after the evacuation had ended. 51 Highland Div., had been on detached duty in the Maginot Line, and were part of IX Corps of French X Army. They were never part of the Dunkirk rearguard.
@ericbeaton72112 жыл бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 I did not claim that the 51st Highland Division were part of the Dunkirk rearguard. I stated that my father was a lance corporal in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and he fought in the rearguard action round Dunkirk. How he got to be there I have no idea. But the reality of battle is that soldiers get separated from there units and end up fighting where they are told to fight. It is a matter of factual history that once the Dunkirk beaches were cleared those soldiers of the rearguard whatever nationality they were and whatever regiments they belonged to were told to make for St Valery.
@dovetonsturdee70332 жыл бұрын
@@ericbeaton7211 British units defending the perimeter included, among others, elements of the following regiments: the Loyals, Leicesters, Sherwood Foresters, Warwickshires, East Lancashires, Borders, Coldstream Guards, Duke of Wellington's, Green Howards, Durham Light Infantry, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Royal Ulster Rifles, Grenadier Guards, Berkshires, Suffolks, Bedfordshire and Herts, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, East Surreys, Royal Fusiliers, South Lancashires and the Black Watch. These were withdrawn to Dunkirk on 2/3 June to an inner perimeter, and evacuated. For the last day, the perimeter was held by French troops. Your reference to St. Valery can only refer to 51HD. 7 & 8 Battalions of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders were part of 51HD's 154 Brigade, which formed part of Arkforce. Arkforce was detached from the division on 9/10 June in order to form a defensive position 19 miles east of Le Havre, to make possible the withdrawal of the rest of 51HD and French IX Corps. Heavily congested roads resulted in the late arrival of Arkforce, and enabled Rommel's 7 Panzer to get between it and the rest of IX Corps. As a result, and as it was not possible to reunite 154 Brigade with 51HD. it was ordered to withdraw to Le Havre., from where it was evacuated. There is a detailed account of these events in 'The Last Act' by Basil Karslake.
The Soldiers that where left behind fighting after everyone else had left.
@glosfishgb62672 жыл бұрын
Thr Germans let them go to defend the Empire they were interested in the east not the west they only wanted to end the war with Britain at the earlies possible stage
@glosfishgb62672 жыл бұрын
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 already said
@glosfishgb62672 жыл бұрын
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 The Germans were not the side who wanted wars between Anglo Saxons whites killing white in a brothers war not thier thing at all
@gdwlaw55493 жыл бұрын
Absolute total shame on you to not mention the French defense of Dunkirk !!!!!!!!!!!
@Arizona-ex5yt2 жыл бұрын
Question: How did they do it? The answer is simple: "Rule Britannia! Britannia Rule the Waves! Britons never shall be slaves!"
@TomTom-rh5gk3 жыл бұрын
You proved that Dunkirk was a miracle, The myth was a that people believe what every they are told on yourtube.
@brianpearson87823 жыл бұрын
The halt order
@DavidOfWhitehills3 жыл бұрын
TOG !!! 7:33
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
Char B1.
@DavidOfWhitehills3 жыл бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 You are right.
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@DavidOfWhitehills Thanks! I have seen TOG at Bovington, and a remarkably bizarre beast it is.
@lyasin17423 жыл бұрын
French soldiers sacrifice. Done end of explanation
@dougie19433 жыл бұрын
Where was the French Navy? They were supposed to evacuate the French troops and take them south to rejoin the fight for their country. In the end they were evacuated by the RN and brought to Britain.
@vangorp90563 жыл бұрын
@@dougie1943 I can't understand how such brave soldiers, fighting in various places at one against ten (sometimes even one against thirty), still manage to find enough strength to go on the assault: it's simply amazing ! I find among the French soldiers of Dunkirk the same ardour as that of the poilus of Verdun in 1916. For several days hundreds of bombers and guns have been pounding the French defences. However, it is still the same thing, our infantry and tanks cannot break through, despite some ephemeral local successes." " "Dunkirk proves to me that the French soldier is one of the best in the world. The French artillery, so feared in 14-18, once again demonstrated its dreaded effectiveness. Our losses are terrifying: many battalions have lost 60% of their strength, sometimes even more! “ "By resisting about ten days to our forces, which were significantly superior in terms of numbers and resources, the French army achieved a superb feat in Dunkirk that is to be commended. It certainly saved Britain from defeat, by allowing its professional army to reach the English coast." General Von Küchler commandant of the XVIII army during the last stand of the french army to cover the british at Dunkirk.
@didierpaya90693 жыл бұрын
@@dougie1943 a part of the french navy was here some of Franche ships were sunk by german aviation, Britishes historians forget it. That's all.
@change_your_oil_regularly42873 жыл бұрын
The halt order was in Hitlers top 5 biggest mistakes of the war imo
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
It would have been had Hitler issued it. He didn't, the commander of Army Group A, Von Rundstedt, did. He wished to have his armour serviced before beginning the second stage of the campaign, and because he feared a repeat of the 'Miracle of the Marne.' Goering had already told Hitler that the elimination of the Dunkirk pocket was 'a special job for the Luftwaffe' and Hitler believed him.
@zackdyny36773 жыл бұрын
Those panzer would be massarce by anti tank, mine and tank in narrow srreet and they would be vulnerable for counter invasion by the allied.
@shivrajkp3 жыл бұрын
Which are the other 4 mistakes ??
@garywetendorf49382 жыл бұрын
I believe it was an act of God that protected the British soldiers!
@AUCHTERMUCHTYZZ3 жыл бұрын
51st Highland Div will tell a different story!
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
They were not with the BEF at Dunkirk. They were with the French IX Corps, which surrendered on 12 June.
@AUCHTERMUCHTYZZ3 жыл бұрын
@@dovetonsturdee7033 exactly left behind!!!!
@dovetonsturdee70333 жыл бұрын
@@AUCHTERMUCHTYZZ Left behind because they had been obliged to surrender when IX Corps did. The Royal Navy had sent an evacuation fleet of 67 merchantmen & 140 smaller vessels to St. Valery, intending to lift 51HD on the night of 12 June. General Marcel Ihler, of IX Corps, took the decision out of their hands.
@shug8313 жыл бұрын
Didn't work for my father. He spent 5 years in a Polish prison camp.
@phlm90383 жыл бұрын
Don't you know it's an offense in Poland to say that it was a "Polish prison camp". You should say a "POWs camp in Poland". That will spare you a fine ;)
@peterjohnson38363 жыл бұрын
Britain was born on the waves. Germany no
@jamesavenell23683 жыл бұрын
Don't give much of a stuff to the whys' & wherefores. I was a child at the time & will never forget a one of them, whatever nationality they were. It was all another tragedy of mankind perpetrated by a minority as is usual in this life.