Why do Brits celebrate running away?
>>58819839
It was the largest and most effective tactical retreat in human history. It allowed the isles to stand alone with her colonies against Hitler and had a major effect on turning the tide in the east.
Don't forget the American cowards refused to join the war until Hitler declared war on them first, they also refused to fight the Germans until the Soviets were pouring into Europe and they knew they could subjugate their European brothers and sisters.
>>58819839
Pouring into Germany*
>>58820167
they were let go
hitler could very well destroyed the whole army
>>58820167
>It allowed the isles to stand alone with her colonies against Hitler
Yes, because fuck the French.
>>58820275
>they were let go
Mainstream historians don’t give much credence to this, and most dismiss it entirely. Indeed, there’s no evidence of it anywhere in the record of the war, and it makes no sense from a logistical standpoint. Nevertheless, the idea of a merciful Hitler letting the British go as a sporting gesture or so they’d “owe him one” has a strong foothold among historical revisionists, white supremacists and Hitler apologists who see the dictator as a brilliant general and all-powerful mastermind.
They allege that Hitler allowed the evacuation to secure better peace terms with Britain and look like a magnanimous gentleman, rather than a psychotic despot. He would need the British for the coming struggle against Communism, so the theory goes. Others allege a racial component to the decision, as Hitler sought to avoid killing numerous Anglo-Saxons, whom he believed were superior to his other enemies. Then there are the claims that are simply bizarre, such as that Hitler wanted to prolong the war at the behest of “European bankers” or the Illuminati, or that he was secretly a deep cover British agent.
There is an undeniable element of coincidence to Hitler’s pause. But coincidence is not evidence of conspiracy. And there is no evidence from any element of the German military bureaucracy. In fact, the Guardian recently revealed the contents of a letter from May 28th written by the German High Command to the German Labor Minister, which assumed the British army would be wiped out at Dunkirk:
“Most esteemed Labour Führer of the Reich! Everything that has happened since May 10 seems even to us, who had indestructible faith in our success, like a dream. In a few days four fifths of the English Expeditionary Army and a great part of the best mobile French troops will be destroyed or captured. The next blow is ready to strike, and we can execute it at a ratio of 2:1, which has hitherto never been granted to a German field commander…”
There is absolutely no logical reason why the Germans would have wanted the bulk of the British armed forces to escape. If the Germans had been able to collapse the Dunkirk pocket, it would have weakened the Allies immeasurably, possibly bringing them to the negotiating table. Britain was terrified of a German landing on the home islands, and while Germany never had the capacity to pull it off, the general feeling around Winston Churchill’s government was that it was only a matter of time before the invasion came. And with no army to stop it, that fear might have taken hold and led to peace negotiations.
There was also far more involved in the Allied escape than Hitler ordering his tanks to stop. German soldiers didn’t simply stand around and watch the British being evacuated. They were fighting to reach the beaches the entire time the Allies were fighting to get off them, with artillery and aircraft shelling, bombing and strafing the troops there without mercy. Even the most ardent white supremacist has to acknowledge that Adolf Hitler couldn’t make clouds appear.
Finally, the idea that Hitler ordered a grand stand down of his troops is deflated by one simple fact: the pause order didn’t actually originate with Hitler. It was first given by General Gerd von Rundstedt, commander of Army Group A, which was the large force fighting in western France. In turn, the pause was requested by von Rundstedt’s tank unit commander, who had lost 50% of his armored forces and needed time to regroup.
The order went, to von Rundstedt, who thought the Luftwaffe could deal with the British while he turned toward Paris. He passed it up to Hitler, who rubber stamped it, and the order was given. German generals vociferously blamed Hitler for the British miracle after the war, including von Rundstedt, who placed the whole debacle at Hitler’s feet. They escaped disaster at Dunkirk through tenacity, courage and a little luck, not through any gracious gesture of Adolf Hitler.
Best thing that happened during the battle of france for the allies
>>58820535
>>58820424
>>58820215
>>58820167
Thank you based leafs
>>58819839
As >>58820167 said, it was the largest and most effective tactical retreat in human history.
It's also a source of national pride and solidarity due to the role British civilians played in the evacuation. The BBC appealed for holiday photos people had taken in Dunkirk and received a metric fuckton; the army was able to use those photos to draw up an accurate map of the coastline which helped plan an effective evacuation.
On the day itself, the government appealed for people with boats to sail over and rescue as many soldiers as they could. I don't remember the percentage, but it's safe to assume a significant amount of soldiers were saved by people going back and forth in their fucking pleasure yachts or fishing boats.
It's a source of celebration and pride because the British public helped the soldiers live to fight another day. It was a big fuck you to Hitler, and it showed the Germans just how fucking resolute the British were.
>>58819839
We celebrate all kinds of failures. Shackletons voyage for example, and our comedic heroes are failures. I suppose you can connect more with that human condition
>>58821080
>Tfw living in a seaside town in the south east
There are several boats that went over there that still survive, and theres a neat monument in the local church as well
>>58820167
>Don't forget the American cowards refused to join the war until Hitler declared war on them first
What irrational fuckheads, trying to stay out of a war they have nothing to do with.
>>58821601
Fucking savages...
>>58820282
WHAAAAAAAAAAT
>>58821601
>threw Germany into debt for war reparations when you only joined the war right at the end what was the general reason why hitler rose to power
>>58822005
The poor Germans and their world war reparation debt. Fucking americans... You know what I mean, mate.
