Forgotten Voices of Dunkirk

by Joshua Levine

It could have been the biggest military disaster suffered by the British in the Second World War, but against all odds the British army was successfully evacuated, and "Dunkirk spirit" became synonymous with the strength of the British people in adversity.  On the same day that Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, German troops invaded Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. The eight–month period of calm that had existed since the declaration of war was over. But the defences constructed by the Allies in preparation failed to repel a German army with superior tactics.The British Expeditionary Force soon found themselves in an increasingly chaotic retreat. By the end of May 1940, over 400,000 Allied troops were trapped in and around the port of Dunkirk without shelter or supplies. Hitler’s army was just ten miles away. On May 26th, the British Admiralty launched Operation Dynamo. This famous rescue mission sent every available vessel—from navy destroyers and troopships to pleasure cruisers and fishing boats—over the Channel to Dunkirk. Of the 850 "Little Ships" that sailed to Dunkirk, 235 were sunk by German aircraft or mines, but over this nine day period 338,000 British and French troops were safely evacuated. Drawing on the wealth of material from the Imperial War Museum Sound Archive, Forgotten Voices of Dunkirk presents in the words of both rescued and rescuers in an intimate and dramatic account of what Winston Churchill described as a "miracle of deliverance."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Historical, Military History

312 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2010

About the author

Joshua Levine was born in the Bahamas. He has a law degree and practiced as a criminal barrister for several years in London. He gave up law and became an actor, appearing in amateur theatre productions. He also worked as an assistant producer, working on a documentary about Handel's Water Music. He wrote a stage play entitled, Crash, and went on to write programs for BBC Radio 4. He is the author of Forgotten Voices, Beauty and Atricity, On a Wing and a Prayer, Operation Fortitude, The Secret History of the Blitz, and Dunkirk.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's forgotten, by Americans anyway, is Dunkirk itself. hearing the term most probably don't associate it with WWII and frankly it sounds more like a hill in Scotland than a beach in France.

This book is a collection of oral history, outtakes of the evacuation feom the mouths of soldiers and civilians from every walk in life. There tragedy, of course, heroism and even humor. Of course there is, what a cliche. People might note that this is history from the actors themselves, unfiltered by scholarly erudition and, best of all, in unburdened of the blight that is the academicians vocaculary, a mixture of precision, fashion, pretension and jargon. True enough, as far as it goes, but don't forget there are lenses at work.
Someone chose the people to interview
"" "" "" "" stories to record
"" "" "" "" recordings to archive
"" "" "" "" the archives to review for this book
"" "" "" "" which of rhe reviewed pieces to use
"" "" "" "" how to edit and order the stories told

I mention this only to point out that oral history isn't the unvarnished truth. It starts with memories that have been shellacked, oft re-told, embellished and agglomerated even before the series of lenses above are applied. Any good histoeian knows that history is not easy, not simple, nott a tale or a mini-series, but is a series of messes glopped one upon the other, interpreted, reinterpreted, and discombobulated. Just is.

All that being said I found the book impossible to stop reading. i usually read several books at a time, but I strated these stories one evening and finished them the next. So many images remain with me, but the strongest is likely the one story almost everyone kmows: English soldiers had to abandon France, the Germans at their back and in the air, the channel lying between them and their homes. A motley flotilla of everything that could float made its way to Dunkirk, but the battle was going on around them and it was obvious there would not be enough ships for everyone. Mad rush for the nearest ship, a salt water mosh pit, of sorts? No. They queued up (with a few exceptions) and waited their turn to be assigned a ship. After months of lazing about France in the period known as the Phoney War, the Germans came up hard and fast. Overmanned and underarmed the English fought slowly to the channel at Dunkirk. When they got there they were rired, hungry, and scared shitless. But they queued up patiently to wait their turn.

That scene I think is among the most important images I'll carry not just from this text but from the war itself.

In closing, the same editor has a volume out which treats the English homefront during the war. Can't wait to read i --

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2010, 'Forgotten Voices Dunkirk' is another in the 'Forgotten Voices' series drawing from the oral history archives held by the IWM, and focusses on the events leading up to, during and after the evacuation of the defeated British Army from Dunkirk in 1940. The book is broken down into several chapters covering each stage of the events described, supported by over 50 photographs. The photos are a nice touch, but the real stars are the anecdotes which have been very carefully selected for the focus of their relevance to the chapter in which they are related. Having read a number of books about Dunkirk, this made a refreshing change in covering the subject in a more personal way that is often lacking in other books. The anecdotes are mainly from British Army personnel, but in addition there are some from the RAF, Royal Navy, British civilian sailors, French Army and even the German Air Force. The well organised structure makes this a compelling read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't taught about Dunkirk in school when we talked about World War II so, admittedly, it wasn't until Nolan's film came out that I first learned about it. I wanted to understand more about what happened there and I heard one of the actors mention this book in an interview as one he researched for his role. Great suggestion! Truly an amazing story, and it being told from first-hand accounts helped me get a better understanding of what it would be like to be in that situation. Terrifying, chaotic, but also hopeful. I also like that there is a brief section about men who didn't make it to Dunkirk or who weren't aware of the evacuation at all.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent entry into the 'Forgotten Voices' collection. Some of the stories captured here are so evocative and vivid you really get an amazing idea of the various aspects of the retreat and the rescue operation. Some of the these small snippets are incredibly moving as well for a story that can be captured in a few paragraphs. Christopher Nolan clearly read this book before working on his recent film about 'Dunkirk' as well as a few of the stories read like they are directly translated into the film!

[Siddarth Mech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you a vivid picture of what happened back at those battlegrounds -a real 1st person view.!!
The British Journey to Defend France, Heroic moments, Tragedies, Betrayal by fifth columnists, Fighting retreat, Defeat and Finally the Breathtaking Evacuation at Dunkirk.

.An amazing book of Historical Memory!

[andrew carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special book

Such a good collection of accounts from the brave people who were there, brilliant book. Should be used in schools as part of history lessons.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read perspectives and descriptions from during the war, especially after recently visiting many sites in the area.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 'must read'. Very moving accounts from soldiers and civilians caught in a nightmarish event - their memories of distinct, personal events are described with clarity and frankness.

[David Worsfold · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some very powerful stories, always more impactful by being captured in the first person.

[Richard Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

[Linda J. Sandahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of eyewitness interviews with survivors of Dunkirk, held together and placed in context by a narration read by Simon McCorkindale. Miraculously the interviews in this book were recorded and collected in time to include eyewitness accounts, which are really enthralling -- and astonishing, as well, including truths that are much stranger than fiction. The most amazing story describes the fleeing British troops, having been harried for days by German fighte planes, turning on their tormentors in a fury and actually bringing down a plane with rifle fire.
A must-read -- or must-listen -- for anyone who is interested in the history of WW2 or its influence on us today.

[Kazimiera pendrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book for anyone who is a fan of historical memoirs

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by the forgotten voices series, goes from the invasion to the retreat and onto England covers all the emotions that could be felt for an army on the retreat!

[Jamie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's oral history.

So it has all the scholarly draw backs that oral history carries.

So many very interesting stories.

[Nick Boldrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good accounts - fair amount from Border regiment & Durham Light Infantry, plus Border regiment photos

[Rachel Parham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about the Dunkirk evacuation in the words of the soldiers and civilians that were actually there made this incredible story all the more poignant...bravo, Levine!