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.

The evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk is one of the pivotal moments in the Second World War - an astonishing endeavour that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. 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 1940 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.

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

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.

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



Book Information
ISBN 9781509860043
Author Julian Thompson
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 324g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 130mm * 26mm