Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Register Log in

Anyone planning to see the movie "Dunkirk"?



P

portslade seagull

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2003
17,606
portslade
My old next door neighbour Ron god bless his soul was also at Dunkirk. He was part of the vanguard of troops protecting the guys escaping from the beach. I often used to go around and share a whisky whilst he showed me his sketches from the war which were superb by the way. He told me a story about him and a few others in a transport lorry with a machine gun mounted on the back being chased into Dunkirk by the German out riders. They took 3 bikes out and managed to get back to blighty.
 






Acker79

Acker79

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2008
31,855
Brighton
I'm not generally a war film fan, but I do like all of Chris Nolan's other films, so will go watch this one.
 


jakarta

jakarta

Well-known member
May 25, 2007
15,623
Sullington
Return of the Rev said:
(my uncle didn't talk much about the war,one of many i know)
Click to expand...

One of my biggest regrets was not quizzing my late Father-in-Law about his war - went over to France on D-Day +2 as a specialist signaller (he was taught to listen into & decipher German morse transmissions from their forward units). Went all the way from Normandy to Germany attached to the Guards Armoured Division.

Barely mentioned it except the odd anecdote such as diving for cover when the USAAF Thunderbolts & Mustangs came over as they let fly at everything they could see on the ground! Ended up as part of the British Army of Occupation in Berlin for about 2 years, he did say his experiences there informed him about what sort of people our Russian 'allies' actually were...

Have some very interesting photos of his time in Berlin, such as when he watched the 1945 Victory Parade with Montgomery, Eisenhower and Zhukov taking the salute of the combined forces but as I say, frustratingly I only got see them after his death.
 






T

The Birdman

New member
Nov 30, 2008
6,313
Haywards Heath
Blue3 said:
My Uncle Harry was at Dunkirk as part of the expeditionary force and was one of the volunteers who stayed behind holding the Germans off to allow the last few to escape, he was wounded and lost an eye captured he spent the rest of the war in a prison camp, lovely man lost his only child my cousin when only a teenager and his wife crippled with arthritis, he never complained. When he passed away after his Wife and Son my Dad and I were tasked with clearing the house in a draw in the kitchen we found a whole bunch of medals which he never mentioned a very unassuming hero but I remember him as a kind smiling uncle
Click to expand...
Heroes
 








T

The Birdman

New member
Nov 30, 2008
6,313
Haywards Heath
Return of the Rev said:
Will do! Interested as my uncle was evacuated off the beach at Dunkirk. A quite traumatic period for him and thousand of others,happier times for him at the Goldstone front row third from the left.
Click to expand...

That's a big knife what brave men I going to the film tonight there was lots of bravery going on all over the place. Thank goodness the RAF gave us time to rebuild.
 


T

The Birdman

New member
Nov 30, 2008
6,313
Haywards Heath
crookie said:
They had no concept of how the German Strategy of Blitzkrieg would render their tactics irrelevant. Most of the generals thought it would be like WW1 again. The French actually had more tanks than the Germans, they were just spread thinly across the whole front, whereas the Germans concentrated them for maximum impact, using combined Armour/Infantry/Artillery/Airpower to devastating effect. the French also had no strategic reserve, so when the Germans broke through, there was nothing to stop them, bar their own logistical constraints. I have just read Dunkirk by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, a great read focusing mainly on individual testimony of survivors.
Click to expand...
also they thought the German airforce could finish them of on the beach Hitler also thought Britain would go for a peace deal. But they did have to resupply it's own army.
 


dazzer6666

dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,400
Burgess Hill
Slightly O/T, but on a similar theme recently watched Hacksaw Ridge - true story (have since read more on Doss's background) and very moving.

Can't wait to see Dunkirk.
 




jakarta

jakarta

Well-known member
May 25, 2007
15,623
Sullington
The Birdman said:
also they thought the German airforce could finish them of on the beach Hitler also thought Britain would go for a peace deal. But they did have to resupply it's own army.
Click to expand...

When you say 'they' it was actually a political gesture from Hitler to Goering.

While Goering was head of the Luftwaffe he was also a very highly placed politician who had been a Nazi since the 1920's. He essentially wanted his pet project to be rated above the German Army and Kreigsmarine in the eyes of Hitler.

Hitler was never particularly fond of the German Army (possibly because he was only an NCO in World War One) and was open to persuasion as to the use of air power. Also as stated the German Army was fairly exhausted as it had hugely exceeded its schedule for cutting the BEF and French Army in two. In retrospect even given this they should have carried on but luckily for us they didn't and the Royal Navy and RAF did their stuff.
 




T

The Birdman

New member
Nov 30, 2008
6,313
Haywards Heath
jakarta said:
When you say 'they' it was actually a political gesture from Hitler to Goering.

While Goering was head of the Luftwaffe he was also a very highly placed politician who had been a Nazi since the 1920's. He essentially wanted his pet project to be rated above the German Army and Kreigsmarine in the eyes of Hitler.

Hitler was never particularly fond of the German Army (possibly because he was only an NCO in World War One) and was open to persuasion as to the use of air power. Also as stated the German Army was fairly exhausted as it had hugely exceeded its schedule for cutting the BEF and French Army in two. In retrospect even given this they should have carried on but luckily for us they didn't and the Royal Navy and RAF did their stuff.
Click to expand...
totally agree
 








Sorrel

Sorrel

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
2,743
Back in East Sussex
Saw it in the Imax. Loved it - very intense. Definitely recommended and I particularly liked the way it focused on the viewpoints of those in the action rather than any larger scale political point of view.
 


jakarta

jakarta

Well-known member
May 25, 2007
15,623
Sullington
essbee1 said:
I thought that it was the German Navy that Hitler had a problem/friction with -
Don't ever remember there being friction with the army.
Click to expand...

He wasn't too bothered with Doenitz & Raeder because he just didn't understand Naval warfare.

His obsession was going East to conquer Russia etc. overland but if he had been persuaded to build a much bigger U-Boat Fleet in 1941-42 instead of invading Russia we might well have lost the war.

Do some research and see how many generals got the bullet, in certain cases (Rommel) literally. As I said my understanding is that he had a big issue with the professional army top brass.

He really thought he was a military genius on land, which of course was very good news for the Allies.
 




Djmiles

Djmiles

Barndoor Holroyd
Dec 1, 2005
12,060
Kitchener, Canada
Just got back, I really enjoyed it. Definitely worth a watch.
 


Tom Hark Preston Park

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
70,161
Not seen it yet, but IMHO a movie that gives the time of day, let alone a part, to that karaoke cock from One Direction has been artistically compromised.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Albion and Premier League latest from Sky Sports


Top
Link Here