Dunkirk Episode 1, Retreat (1/7)

The Dunkirk evacuations, May 26th - June 4th, 1940. It is the 70th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo, the heroic saviour of the defeated BEF from mainland Europe, preventing destruction by the German Wehrmacht.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dunkirk
• WW2
• Retreat
• Documentary
• World
• War
• Two
• Third
• Reich
• Hitler
• Germany
• German
• France
• French
• Britain
• British
• Army

[2007Colonial]

The political pressure at having 250,000 british soldiers held as prisioners would have been very great on Churchill, after reading Five Days in London Halifax could have suceeded Churchill and negociated their return, if Hitler had invaded Britian in 1941 he would have won and captured most of the country, that would have been the end of the western European war, but the British Empire would still exist around the world at that time.

[martynrobin121]

@2007Colonial What?

You make out the entire British & Empire Armies were in France 1940.

Why would Churchillneeds to accept peace-talks?

It was impossible for the Axis to invade Britain, The BEF was still in Europe and only pushed out by 1941, With the defeat at Greece & Balkans.

The British had Armies based around the World, Empire of resources and loyal troops, Endless connections, Best Navy on the planet. The Germans got lucky 1940, It would be last time.

[2007Colonial]

If Hitler had let Guderian cross the Ahl Canal and surround Dunkirk before the BEF got there, that would have been the end of the western European war, with the entire BEF as prisoners Churchill would have had no choice but to talk with Hitler. Thank god it didn't work out that way!

[martynrobin121]

@HerrFitztastic There was 13 BEF divisions in France, The British & Empire armies were based around the world, They had 1/4 of the entire planet to protect. It was imposible for the BEF to save France, Their failure at the ardennes cost everything. However in N.Africa the British crushed the Axis forces, In Malaya the British could not defend the territoy they were fighting on too many fronts. However they still defeated the japs in Asia thanks to Slim jim plan.

[HerrFitztastic]

@martynrobin121

Less than 145 Wehrmacht divisions undertook Fall Gelb. 170 is just ridiculous. You forget the entire French 1st, 7th and elements of the Belgian army that fought off the Wehrmacht's advance elements (which Hitler tasked Halder and Rundstedt to hold off, trusting in Goering)

The British ARMY WAS part of the Commonwealth and Empire armed forces; its shortage of heavy equipment therefore effected the entire war effort.

The Malayan campaign saw the army LOSE its supplies to Japan

[martynrobin121]

@HerrFitztastic Dunkirk was a never defeat, 13 BEF divisons in France against over 170 Axis divisions and the best Air-Force in Europe. The BEF was saved with 150,000+ French. And the Territorial Army was small, British Army & Empire Armies were the main Force. An invasion of Britain was impossible even if the Axis won Battle of Britain. Also Singapore the Troops had very little ammo,food and Britain was too busy in Europe,Africa to care, They could fight till the death or surrender.

[HerrFitztastic]

@martynrobin121

(1) Prewar british equipment would still be widely used well AFTER the war. It wasn't 'shit'.

(2) Britain's entire territorial army was left dangerously exposed without adequate heavy equipment for much of that year and next because of the French misadventure. Had it not been for the R.A.F foiling Operation Seelion..

The soviets lost 3.3 million in Barbarossa as POW's, out of a larger 7.2M casualties.

Percival surrendered in Singapore with 80k against a jap force 1/3 its size

[martynrobin121]

Was Dunkirk really a major defeat for the BEF? Put it this way most of the BEF was saved and would fight anouther, What they left behind was shit equipment, The British would produce better equipment. The Axis during Stalingrad 350,000 trapped and wiped out, Tunisia 250,000 Axis forces captured. The British could rescue their troops, The Axis failed 2 even attempt 2 rescue their comrades!

[foxitewhig]

Thank you for posting. This is a superb film - forget the negative comments here. I missed the first part when it was first broadcast and the BBC don't seem to have issued it on DVD, so I'm really pleased to be able to catch up here.

[THthefirst]

he refers to "the British" at 7.23 when they were british - unlikely