Robert Kershaw, Dünkirchen 1940 (Osprey, 2022)
For many, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in May 1940 was one of Britain’s greatest military achievements. Far from being an ignominious defeat, Dunkirk became a symbol of lion-hearted determination and a great victory in the words and images of propagandists. Some more recent historians have essayed a ‘we got lucky’ thesis, blaming Hitler’s inexplicable decision to halt the panzers on the verge of seizing Dunkirk and bagging the BEF and French armies. To become better informed, we need to know what was happening on the German side. Robert Kershaw’s Dünkirchen 1940 could well provide the answers we seek.
Kershaw begins on the eve of the German invasion of France, with the panzers ready to roll; their mission, to drive to the sea, splitting France into two and capturing the allied armies in a vice. Kershaw makes clear, however, that while the Germans progressed at a rate beyond their wildest dreams, this would be no cakewalk. Problems surfaced at the highest levels with divisions in command, which caused confusion down the chain. Some gung-ho panzer commanders did not help as they charged forward, leaving the plodding but vital infantry and artillery lagging in their wake. Kershaw also rehabilitates the reputation of the Belgian army, much disparaged by others for their surrender at a critical time as the net closed in on Dunkirk. As for capturing the town of Dunkirk, the German experiences at Boulogne and Calais demonstrated how difficult that might be, and ultimately was. Moreover, with the Allies trapped in Dunkirk, the besieging forces were pared down to continue the attack on the rest of France. The Germans stuck to their task, however, despite increasing attrition and exhaustion and ultimately succeeded in battering their way into Dunkirk. By then, the British and a considerable number of French had escaped.
Dünkirchen 1940 is a remarkable achievement. Kershaw weaves analysis and narrative of land, air, and sea operations into a coherent story that, if not definitive, will be high on the list for future historians of this vital campaign. Kershaw also tells the story from multiple perspectives, from Hitler to his generals and officers down to the ordinary soldiers fighting in the dunes around Dunkirk. The effects of Germany’s blitzkrieg are told in candid comments from the allied soldiers under relentless attack – I actually came away from this book with greater admiration for the efforts made to rescue allied soldiers from Dunkirk. For those interested in the Dunkirk campaign and the early war, this is a must read book, but anyone interested in military history will gain much from it, not the least of which is an enjoyable read told by an excellent storyteller.
