The sheer quantities is mind blowing and from reading this book you could argue that the men and women doing this side of the war are just as important as those having to do the fighting. In May of 1940, 400,000 allied troops were pinned against the French port of Dunkirk with Hitler's forces closing in. On the second day they find a German convoy of captured Allied vehicles and tag themselves onto the end. Surrounded by overwhelming Nazi strength, the 338,000 men gathered on the beach were all that stood between Hitler and Western Europe.

There are no direct links or sources indicated, however, making me initially question the accuracy of many of the descriptions and anecdotes.

The author of this book is most famous for writing the classic Titanic tale "A Night to Remember," so it was fitting to learn from him that Charles Lightoller was a civilian sailor who also helped the British Navy with the use of his private ship during his nation's rescue of her soldiers. His son packs 80 men belowdecks, all of them laying down so they'll take up less room and not coincidentally lower the center of the Sundowner's gravity, and Lightoller packs the deck with 50 more, at which point Lightoller "could feel Sundowner getting tender. It saw the evacuation of over 330,000 troops to Britain as Nazi German forces closed in, however 68,000 men were captured or killed during the operation. Further, the French felt they were not being treated equally once the evacuation began to gather steam.

The British command also had to make important choices as a number of destroyers dispatched to evacuate men began to be sunk. So, if you’re looking for reading material to understand more about this operation and what it entitled, I recommend the following books.In general, the story is familiar: Operation Dynamo, in Dover, corralling large and small ships; the hazardous embarkation, from the beaches and the eastern mole, under German fire; the sometimes-perilous crossing; the final withdrawal. The book creates a vivid picture of how the myth of the ‘victory’ at Dunkirk means so little to those soldiers who did not escape – men who continue to feel embittered that their sacrifices went unnoticed and unrewarded. But over a few frantic days, the greatest evacuation in history managed to salvage hope, saving the total destruction of the army and hundreds of thousands of soldiers lives. After listening to it I do understand why it was a miracle and am truly amazed and inspired by how many civilians came to the rescue. The book delves into the military strategies, the heroism of individuals, and the challenges faced during this critical operation.

For Lord, this is spiritless, unimaginative writing--and that's what finally makes the book routine. Dunkirk: The Men They Left Behind is a new and controversial study of one of the most enduring tales in modern British history – the evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk in 1940. For all ebook purchases, you will be prompted to create an account or login with your existing HarperCollins username and password.It's not like I don't know how either of those stories ended but Lord has a real gift for seeking out people you'd like to have a beer with in ordinary circumstances who are then thrown into extraordinary circumstances and brings you along for the ride. Also, another example is when the soldiers who were rescued went back to save others requiring a strong mentality. Yes, all this makes for great storytelling, but Lord never lets you forget that this is a war, and that wars are brutal and unforgiving and if you can manage it best viewed through a distant lens. Despite the challenging circumstances, Operation Dynamo managed to evacuate a significant number of troops.