Dunkirk: The Patriotic Myth

by Nicholas Harman

For forty years, the battle of Dunkirk has been celebrated as one of the most extraordinary triumphs in British history, but it this astonishing book, Nicholas Harman shows that it was in fact a major defeat, embellished and made glorious by the British propaganda machine.

Mr. Harman interviewed survivors of the evacuation and examined previously unexplored Cabinet papers, war diaries and other documents in compiling this vivid and fascinating account, the first to place the military and naval events on the Flanders coast in the context of the strategic and political decisions that shaped them. Dunkirk is a sweeping and powerful narrative about an event of extraordinary proportions and immense importance in the history of World War II.

Genres: History, World War II, War, British Literature

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[David Worsfold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made allowances for the fact that this was written over 40 years ago and that some records were not available then but I still could not escape from feeling I was reading a polemic rather than a reasoned history book.
The title does betray that the author has a strong point of view but his determination to prove it shows through constantly. Even where a balanced judgement is called for he wades in from his perspective right from the start.
Its strong point is the grasp of the military situation and the clarity of explanation of what was going on during those frantic few weeks in 1940.

[Godlarvae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far from being a negative account of the evacuation at Dunkirk of B.E.F forces, it used facts and figures to detail the heroism of the British, French, and Belgian military involved.
Hampered by inability to communicate efficiently with their French counterparts, it is an amazing tale of how the ultimate tragedy was snatched from history to reflect dogged determination, skillful seamanship, ability to change procedure at a moments notice.
The author also details weakness on Germany's behalf to indicate that they were not superhuman: they exhausted themselves, made errors in tactics, misconstrued intercepted messages etc. He outlines several points of Blitzkrieg that I had not been aware of previously as well as the contrast of it with traditional military doctrine of the day.
I would consider this an objective report of what happened during this time and the reasoning for doctoring/censoring what was happening as perceived by the Britons themselves.
A good read!

[Phillip Olive · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I am sure this book is accurate and well researched and informative, I felt the author jumped around within the timeline of the events which left me somewhat confused at points. Overall I did learn much from this book but felt if it had been put in a more linear timeline I would have understood much more.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the German invasion of France at the beginning of World War II, thousands of military personal were cut off and trapped on the coast at Dunkirk. Despite blunders many were rescued though their equipment was left behind.

[Jeff Wombold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good history but a bit boring

[Mick Maye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonable read, but I have read better.