Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory

Lucid, comprehensive, and authoritative I was very interested in Thompson's general observations. Thompson explains that the BEF was not prepared for what lay ahead, partly due to limited government funding during the 30's, but also due to army inertia. Thompson describes the state of training as lamentable.There was a failure to integrate the use of tanks, unlike the Germans who took on board the British thinking of Fuller and Liddell Hart on the role of armour. The German army had plenty of tanks, though half of them were obsolete. However, by combining infantry, tanks, guns and aircraft they created powerful mobile striking forces.The RAF made a positive contribution to the BEF, but Thompson identifies various reasons why integrated air support - such as enjoyed by the German army - was not possible.The German army was prepared to use their 88mm gun as an anti-tank weapon with devastating effect, showing flexibility of thinking. The British had an equivalent weapon but used it only for its intended artillery role - probably because the British regimental system did not foster the integration of arms.Thompson points out that the German army was fully radioed, British infantry was radioed above company level (their high powered radios were tricky to set up and not always reliable) whilst the French had few radios and relied on messengers. So the Germans had a huge communication edge. This was combined with a significant difference in the chains of command: for example the British were trained to obey orders, whereas the Germans were trained to follow orders but then to use initiative to make the most of situations as they enrolled.The British army was fully mechanised, but surprisingly the Germans used much horse transport - 1200 wagons per division. Logistics were a German weakness throughout WW2. When their horse-drawn artillery was left behind they used the Stuka dive-bomber as mobile artillery.Thompson explains that Lord Gort, the BEF Commander-in-Chief, was not up to the job. Leadership in the BEF generally lacked flair, though some officers would prove more than capable. One of these was Brooke, later CIGS, who described Gort as a glorified boy scout. During the eight months of the Phoney War Gort did nothing to prepare his HQ for war: he did not carry out a single exercise. Gort also had to contend with confusing chains of command under faltering French leadership. However Thompson points out that Gort's decision to evacuate the BEF was the best option. Following 1940 weak army leadership was weeded out. Thompson also points out that the British soldier was well respected by the German army.The bulk of the book covers BEF battles in impressive detail. The book also includes some interesting and informative photographs.Strongly recommended.

A detailed review of the disastrous collapse of the French army and the resultant fighting withdrawal bytheBEF to the coast and rescue.

Military history is more compelling when delivered by a retired soldier who has progressed through the ranks to a very senior level and has seen action and command at the sharp end eg in Thompson's case3 Commando Brigade in the Falklands. Combining those factors with good writing and a grasp of fascinating detail produces a winning outcome. Highly recommended.

This book is absolutely excellent and well-written if you want a detailed history of the BEF's war in Europe up to and including the evacuation though Dunkirk. The political aspects of the campaign are very well covered as are the heroic fights for Boulogne and Calais. Despite the generally poor performance of the French army and its leaders, high praise is given where it is deserved. I can see though that the detailed analysis of the fighting by individual brigades, battalions and even companies of the British army would soon become boring if the reader only wanted an outline to help explain what was going on in the film.The only major weakness as far as I am concerned is the almost total lack of detail about the Royal Navy's enormous contribution to the successful evacuation; on one occasion '.....six destroyers took men off the mole during the day.' Which six destroyers? And how about a list of RN warship losses during the evacuation?On a lesser level it is not true that every one of the RA's guns had an effective tractor, at least one unit, the ad-hoc 'A' regiment RA, known as Burns's Tigers, had to rope their sightless 18/25 pounders onto commandeered civilian transport before engaging enemy armour at point-blank range (see the RA Commemorative Book)My knowledge of the campaign, based mostly on my father's detailed notes as a RA battery commander, has certainly been enhanced by Julian Thompsons first class treatment.

This was, for me, an eye opening account of the fateful days leading up to and immediately after Dunkirk, covering the whole of the phoney war, the Adrenne offensive and the experience of the British Army in that context. I had no idea how hard the fighting was, or actually how much damage the British Army inflicted on the enemy and how, relatively, lightly they got off. It also paints a picture of total collapse by Britain's allies and failure at multiple levels in leadership across the allies as well as incredible luck on the German side. The book is written well, and although it falls into the trap that many military history books do of giving whole paragraphs of abbreviations and minute movements the narrative strong and compelling and overall its worth a read. It's clearly well researched and thought through and I'd recommend to anyone who, as I did, wants to learn more about this often misunderstood phase of WWII

Good, detailed and clear account. It is explained the decisions that lead to Dunkirk very well. My only criticism (nothing to do with the author) is that the way the maps display on the Kindle isn't great (i.e they are the wrong way up - tilted 90 degrees to reading view) and you really need the maps to understand the positions of the units. Maps need to come up as whole pages and the right way up!

An excellent read with precise information on all aspects of this moment in history.Hard to believe this miracle really happened.

Enjoy the film but read the reality with this outstanding book. With the crystal clear mind of our last military commander to win an outright victory with the outstandingly successful campaign to repossess the Falklands, Julian Thompson succinctly describes the strategic background of the BEF campaign together with the day to day reality of a desperate rear guard action, fought with incredible fortitude against the rampant German Panzer divisions and the chaos of our allies.