Dunkirk Turning Point
Seventy seven years ago 338,000 troops were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk. This battle was between France, her allies, and Nazi Germany. It was a great escape that helped Britain avoid defeat in the Second World War. During World War II there were many battles. Amongst the battles, Dunkirk was probably the most significant in British History.
In the spring of 1940 the Phoney War came to an end as the Germans swept through France in what is known as a Blitzkrieg. A Blitzkrieg is a strategic military campaign that involves tanks, motorized infantry, artillery and aircraft. Its purpose is to create an overwhelming victory in combat power, to defeat the opponent, and break through its defences. This movement left many soldiers of the …show more content…
Despite attacks from the German planes, a full scale attack from the Wehrmacht was never launched. Panzer crews awaited orders from Hitler but they never came, Hitler’s failure to the attack would prove to be a fatal mistake in this war. It has been called one of the great turning points of the war. It is thought that Herman Goering may have attempted to convince Hitler that the German aerial military forces could kill the troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. It was also believed that Hitler felt that Britain was more likely to surrender if they weren’t ashamed by the loss of its …show more content…
On May 29th the destroyer Wakeful was torpedoed and sank in 15 seconds. Six hundred men were lost. It is thought that 3,500 British were killed at sea or on the beaches and more than 1,000 Dunkirk citizens were lost in air raids.
On May 31st, Lord Gort, of Britain, left the region and gave command of the British army to Major Alexander. As German air assaults were increasing, all daytime attacks were stopped and the evacuations were limited to night rescues.
In the end, a total of 332,226 men were rescued. Unfortunately for Hitler, Britain sent the entire Royal Air Force to cover Operation Dynamo. Working with allies, they were able to establish a weak air superiority over the beaches and channels, limiting the chances for a German offensive attack. During the operation, 68,111 British forces were killed, wounded, or captured. There were 243 ships, 106 airplanes, and 500,000 tons of supplies used. Despite these losses, the evacuation sustained the British Army and made it available for the immediate defense in Britain. In all, there were 140,00 French, Dutch, Belgian, and Polish soldiers rescued on the
In the spring of 1940 the Phoney War came to an end as the Germans swept through France in what is known as a Blitzkrieg. A Blitzkrieg is a strategic military campaign that involves tanks, motorized infantry, artillery and aircraft. Its purpose is to create an overwhelming victory in combat power, to defeat the opponent, and break through its defences. This movement left many soldiers of the …show more content…
Despite attacks from the German planes, a full scale attack from the Wehrmacht was never launched. Panzer crews awaited orders from Hitler but they never came, Hitler’s failure to the attack would prove to be a fatal mistake in this war. It has been called one of the great turning points of the war. It is thought that Herman Goering may have attempted to convince Hitler that the German aerial military forces could kill the troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. It was also believed that Hitler felt that Britain was more likely to surrender if they weren’t ashamed by the loss of its …show more content…
On May 29th the destroyer Wakeful was torpedoed and sank in 15 seconds. Six hundred men were lost. It is thought that 3,500 British were killed at sea or on the beaches and more than 1,000 Dunkirk citizens were lost in air raids.
On May 31st, Lord Gort, of Britain, left the region and gave command of the British army to Major Alexander. As German air assaults were increasing, all daytime attacks were stopped and the evacuations were limited to night rescues.
In the end, a total of 332,226 men were rescued. Unfortunately for Hitler, Britain sent the entire Royal Air Force to cover Operation Dynamo. Working with allies, they were able to establish a weak air superiority over the beaches and channels, limiting the chances for a German offensive attack. During the operation, 68,111 British forces were killed, wounded, or captured. There were 243 ships, 106 airplanes, and 500,000 tons of supplies used. Despite these losses, the evacuation sustained the British Army and made it available for the immediate defense in Britain. In all, there were 140,00 French, Dutch, Belgian, and Polish soldiers rescued on the