Posted on 08/25/2017 11:27:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
Dunkirk, the movie, is a big box office hit even with its somewhat inaccurate historical perspective. It only partially tells of the real heroes of this incident and never explains the impact it had on World War II or the British population.
On May 10th 1940, Germany invaded France and the Low Countries, pushing the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), along with French and Belgian troops, back to the French port of Dunkirk. A huge rescue, Operation 'Dynamo', was organized by the Royal Navy to get the troops off the beaches and back to Britain. The fierce Nazi bombing demolished the Dunkirk Harbor making it impossible for the large Royal Navy ships to dock. The evacuation occurred from May 26th to June 4th, 1940. Although these events were realistically portrayed in the movie, never once was it pointed out that if the BEF had been captured, it would have meant the loss of Britain's only trained troops and the probable collapse of the Allied cause.
The film did show the bravery of the RAF pilots; yet, the dogfight looked like the Peanut’s character Snoopy versus the Red Baron. No one is diminishing the role played by the air pilots, but they were only part of a component that changed the tide from a military disaster, in which British generals predicted an overwhelming defeat. In fact, the film implied that the British Royal Air Force withheld reinforcements when in actuality all available aircraft was sent in to support the evacuation.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The old movies are always better, than the new versions
Bkmk
I saw it and I didn’t care for it.
It is said that Hitler promised to give Great Britain to Mussolini. Maybe he sent Hess over to get it.
“One of the survivors in England said that the movie was accurate.”
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Even with accurate facts it was just a so-so movie.
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I suspect that is the right answer. Prior to Dunkirk Hitler was ruthless in his conquest of Europe. He made a very bad error. Those troops on the beaches of Dunkirk some years later carried the spears that defeated Hitler along with the rest of the Allied Troops.
On the other hand, if Hitler could have gotten a deal with Britain (he probably thought Churchill was finished), it would have freed up a lot of troops for Operation Barbarossa. There probably wouldn’t have been the campaign in North Africa and manning the Atlantic Wall in France would have required a lot less manpower.
bfl
I am an amateur aviation historian (from age seven), focusing on WWII.
I had been looking forward to this, until I learned that he wanted to make it “universal” by removing the most salient factors in this piece of history, making it a typical generic Hunger Games in an alternate reality, I suppose.
I may still see it; I am no longer eager.
I recommend the BBC (?) Series, A Piece of Cake, about the Phony War. It stars Tom Burlinson.
It’s a good movie. Don’t be deterred because it isn’t perfect. None of them are.
I wonder if anyone considered shooting those Germans?
In the book RISE AND FALL OF THIRD REICH your point is mentioned. In the book Hitler was also said to not want the Belgians to see him as a complete annhilator...he wanted cooperation from them also. He did hope the Brits would eventually back out and leave him alone so he wouldnt worry about the western front.
“In the book RISE AND FALL OF THIRD REICH your point is mentioned. “
I haven’t read that since 1961———long overdue for a re-read. Good winter reading for me.
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Doubt it. The idea of executing enemy prisoners of war is abhorrent to the military mind. There is a youtube of the Army film of the execution by firing squad of a German General who did exactly that, for similar reasons (the area in which he was holding them was about to be overrun).
“It was Goering who convinced Hitler to halt his panzer divisions, which were poised to take the beachhead at Dunkirk and destroy the BEF, so as to allow his Luftwaffe to finish them off.”
Incorrect. The Panzers needed to stop and resupply anyway.
“in an alternate reality”
Huh? The Dunkirk survivor that saw it said it was the real thing. Of course they had to pick and chose what to show. Moves are short and the event took days.
An excellent movie, I’m originally British and the scenes of the little ships always chokes me up. Truly our finest hour.
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