Dunkirk

Retreat to Victory

Author: Julian Thompson

An insightful military history of Dunkirk and the British army's retreat by an author who was himself a distinguished soldier.

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

An insightful military history of Dunkirk and the British army's retreat by an author who was himself a distinguished soldier.

Description

In May 1940, the small British Expeditionary Force was sent to help the Belgians and French hold back the German army. When the Germans invaded, the BEF found themselves in mortal danger thanks to the collapse of the French army on one flank and the Belgian on another. Ill-equipped and under-trained, they nevertheless fought hard for three weeks, conducting a successful fighting withdrawal in the face of a formidable foe.Drawing on previously unpublished and rare material, Julian Thompson recreates the action from the misunderstandings between the British and French generals to the experiences of the ordinary soldier. He describes the fighting inland and takes us onto Dunkirk harbour and the beaches as the Royal Navy raced against time to bring the British soldiers home.A masterly work of military history, Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory is also a tribute to the soldiers whose courage and self belief sustained them through their darkest hours.

Critic Reviews

“A masterly, authoritative and spell-binding book.”

-- Allan Mallinson
Has many strengths. The most obvious of which is that it is written by a distinguished former soldier . . . this is a good book - decent and true. -- Laurence Rees

About the Author

Julian Thompson joined the Royal Marines a month after his eighteenth birthday and served for thirty-four years, retiring as Major-General. He commanded 3rd Commando Brigade, which carried out the initial landings to repossess the Falkland Islands in 1982 and fought most of the subsequent land battles. He is now visiting professor in the department of war studies, King College, London.

Back Cover

'Has many strengths. The most obvious of which is that it is written by a distinguished former soldier . . . this is a good book - decent and true' Laurence Rees In May 1940, the British army faced one of its greatest challenges. Sent to help the Belgians and French hold back the German army, the small British Expeditionary Force was ill-equipped and under-trained. When Hitler attacked on 10 May and the French and Belgian armies collapsed in the face of Germany's swift and brutal advance, the British soldiers found themselves in mortal danger. In Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory , Major General Julian Thompson recreates the action as the British fought hard for three desperate weeks, conducting a successful fighting withdrawal in the face of a formidable foe. He describes the individual acts of bravery and sacrifice and analyses the decisions of the commanders who made the choice to evacuate. He also takes us to Dunkirk harbour and onto the beaches, where the British army was trapped and under attack, while the Royal Navy and the 'little ships' raced against time to rescue them. A masterly work of military history, this is also a tribute to the soldiers whose courage and self-belief sustained them through their darkest hours.