Dunkirk 1940 - How the French Army saved GB

[Gabriel92]

 

[Indus Falcon]

Thanks, appreciate it!!

 

[Gabriel92]

@AUSTERLITZ @Nihonjin1051 @mike2000 is back @Taygibay @waz

 

[Aepsilons]

An honorable and brave defense , indeed !

 

[SQ8]

It was the French 'Élan' which was sadly seen missing in the early days of the conflict due to the effects of Blitzkrieg.. that saw this feat happen.

 

[Desert Fox]

Only reason the British Expeditionary force and remnants of the French Army were able to escape with their tails between their legs was due to Hitler's soft spot for Britain.

Though, a decision he would regret later on.

"On May 24 German units were just crossing the canal defense line close to Dunkirk, the only remaining port by which the BEF could be evacuated, when an inexplicable order from German leader Adolf Hitler not only stopped their advance but actually called them back to the canal line."

Dunkirk evacuation | World War II | Encyclopedia Britannica

 

[Donatello]

Only reason the British Expeditionary force and remnants of the French Army were able to escape with their tails between their legs was due to Hitler's soft spot for Britain.

Though, a decision he would regret later on.

"On May 24 German units were just crossing the canal defense line close to Dunkirk, the only remaining port by which the BEF could be evacuated, when an inexplicable order from German leader Adolf Hitler not only stopped their advance but actually called them back to the canal line."

Dunkirk evacuation | World War II | Encyclopedia Britannica

Germany would've made a minced meat out of Britain, had it not been for the Channel and the Island nature. Invaded most of Europe.....i mean, how many in the past have done that? It is aid that the only place Hitler had a soft spot for in Britain was Oxford. He wanted it to be the capital of his German-British Empire.....and wanted the existing London obliterated.

 

[TheNoob]

Germany would've made a minced meat out of Britain, had it not been for the Channel and the Island nature. Invaded most of Europe.....i mean, how many in the past have done that? It is aid that the only place Hitler had a soft spot for in Britain was Oxford. He wanted it to be the capital of his German-British Empire.....and wanted the existing London obliterated.

No wonder he wanted london wrecked. lol

 

[Desert Fox]

Germany would've made a minced meat out of Britain, had it not been for the Channel and the Island nature. Invaded most of Europe.....i mean, how many in the past have done that? It is aid that the only place Hitler had a soft spot for in Britain was Oxford. He wanted it to be the capital of his German-British Empire.....and wanted the existing London obliterated.

To say that the French Army saved Britain is truly laughable at best. The French couldn't even defend their own capital city, let alone Britain.

The only thing that saved the BEF in France was Hitler's soft corner for the British Empire (he wanted to preserve the British Empire). His decision to halt his armies from overrunning Dunkirk was a peace overture to the British.

Of course, any changes in Hitler's attitude towards the British were most likely due to Churchill bargaining with Stalin wherein Churchill was willing to give Stalin the entire European continent if only Stalin would attack Hitler from the East (this was prior to American involvement, thus the desperateness of the British for a second front against Hitler).

 

[Ceonwulf]

Germany would've made a minced meat out of Britain, had it not been for the Channel and the Island nature. Invaded most of Europe.....i mean, how many in the past have done that? It is aid that the only place Hitler had a soft spot for in Britain was Oxford. He wanted it to be the capital of his German-British Empire.....and wanted the existing London obliterated.

Napoleon conquered much if Europe too during his day.

But ultimately, Britain was an island nation so it had a massive navy, over 6 times the size of the Germans. So no matter how powerful the Germany army was, they could not invade England.

Countries modify their militaries according to their geographic location and defence purposes. If germany has a large navy but small army, then Germany would have been destroyed. If england had a small navy and a large army then england would have been destroyed.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Not really true. They helped, but the French Army alone was a demoralized defeated force at Dunkirk/Dunkerque. the only saving grace was that many hoped for a free life in England(they guessed that all of them would be evacuated). Had Rundstedt and Hitler not given the Halt order, the French Army would have collapsed sooner. In any case, the perimeter was held by British heavy guns(AA guns used in anti tank roles).

The defence was honorable though. Especially because they knew they were kaput.

Only reason the British Expeditionary force and remnants of the French Army were able to escape with their tails between their legs was due to Hitler's soft spot for Britain.

Though, a decision he would regret later on.

"On May 24 German units were just crossing the canal defense line close to Dunkirk, the only remaining port by which the BEF could be evacuated, when an inexplicable order from German leader Adolf Hitler not only stopped their advance but actually called them back to the canal line."

Dunkirk evacuation | World War II | Encyclopedia Britannica

It was not an inexplicable order. After the war Gerd von Runstedt tried his best to blame Hitler alone, but the decision was as much his as well. The flank of the 8th Panzer of Rommel was exposed and a French counterattack had pushed the Recon battalions in a rout. The overstretched lines of the 'ghost division' was a cause of worry and halting the attack was a good decision. But the Germans should have sped up the attack immediately instead of depending on Goering's Luftflotte 3 alone. But then it's possible that the Germans did not expect the Brits to escape with a third of a million men from ONE single port without air superiority.

Germany would've made a minced meat out of Britain, had it not been for the Channel and the Island nature. Invaded most of Europe.....i mean, how many in the past have done that? It is aid that the only place Hitler had a soft spot for in Britain was Oxford. He wanted it to be the capital of his German-British Empire.....and wanted the existing London obliterated.

Not at all. He had a soft spot, true, but not for any Oxford or anything. He just wanted England to be a brother in arms for his Weltangshaung(world view). Too bad Churchill did not share his views.

 

[SecularNationalist]

Not really true. They helped, but the French Army alone was a demoralized defeated force at Dunkirk/Dunkerque. the only saving grace was that many hoped for a free life in England(they guessed that all of them would be evacuated). Had Rundstedt and Hitler not given the Halt order, the French Army would have collapsed sooner. In any case, the perimeter was held by British heavy guns(AA guns used in anti tank roles).

The defence was honorable though. Especially because they knew they were kaput.

It was not an inexplicable order. After the war Gerd von Runstedt tried his best to blame Hitler alone, but the decision was as much his as well. The flank of the 8th Panzer of Rommel was exposed and a French counterattack had pushed the Recon battalions in a rout. The overstretched lines of the 'ghost division' was a cause of worry and halting the attack was a good decision. But the Germans should have sped up the attack immediately instead of depending on Goering's Luftflotte 3 alone. But then it's possible that the Germans did not expect the Brits to escape with a third of a million men from ONE single port without air superiority.

Not at all. He had a soft spot, true, but not for any Oxford or anything. He just wanted England to be a brother in arms for his Weltangshaung(world view). Too bad Churchill did not share his views.

Also share your rich historic knowledge of 1962 sino war

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Also share your rich historic knowledge of 1962 sino war

Start a new thread. I will try to do justice to those who died. From policy problems to the debacle.