The new film Dunkirk brings one of the most harrowing and incredible stories of the Second World War to the screen.
Christopher Nolan’s epic shares the tale of the British army which, after being pushed back by the technically and numerically superior Nazi forces, was rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk by small boats piloted by ordinary civilians.
Having already received glowing reviews from critics and fans alike, the film highlights a small but incredibly important battle that played a major role in dictating the outcome of the war.
Where was the battle of Dunkirk?
The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were in France in an attempt to stop Hitler’s armies from conquering the whole of Western Europe. Unfortunately the commanders were still using WWI tactics against the devastating Blitzkrieg (or lightning war) employed by the Germans.
The soldiers made their last stand before being rescued from Dunkirk, a small town on France’s north coast about 23 miles away from Dover, in June 1940.
What happened during the battle?
The British were defeated and pushed back to the coast, where many believed the surrounded German army would kill or capture every last man.
As the RAF battled the Luftwaffe in the skies above, and with German dive bombers targeting the Royal Navy ships trying to evacuate the starving soldiers, hundreds of civilians set sail to the French town to help with the relief effort.
What was initially seen by the Germans as a laughable last-ditch attempt to save a defeated army became one of the most heroic and unexpected victories in modern military history.
330,000 men were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, saving the British army and changing the course of the war.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill apparently expected no more than 30,000 solider to escape German clutches.
The above images, from the Dunkirk 1940 museum, shows one of the leaflets dropped on trapped British and French soldiers imploring them to surrender. Some soldiers reportedly used the leaflets as toilet paper.
What affect did Dunkirk have on the world?
The immediate impact of Dunkirk was the incredible escape of the British army. Many historians believe that had bulk of the British army been killed or captured at Dunkirk, the Nazi’s would have been able to invade and defeat a defenceless Britain.
This in turn could have prevented American from joining the war against them, possibly enabling them to be victorious against the Soviets and impose Nazi rule throughout Europe.
The moral impact was far greater. The ‘Dunkirk spirit’ gripped Britain, improving the country’s morale and making Brits (and the rest of the world) believe they could win the war.
It also demonstrated to Hitler that Churchill and the British people were willing to fight on against all odds.
MORE : 10 stunning photos show dramatic evacuation of Dunkirk in colour
What’s the film like?
So far, the reviews have been pretty stellar.
Like most of Christopher Nolan’s films, critics have praised the direction, pace, soundtrack and acting of the cast, which includes Tom Hardy, Harry Styles and Mark Rylance.
One World War II veteran was even brought to tears after watching it, saying the film made him feel that he could ‘see my old friends again’.
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