Why the Battle of Dunkirk Was the Major Turning Point in WW2

German forces had pushed the allies to the beaches of Dunkirk, but then stopped their advance, giving allied forces a chance to evacuate. In today's epic new video we're looking at how close Nazi Germany actually was to winning World War 2 and how it was that Britain was able to pull off one of the most miraculous military retreats in history.

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[ColdClock]

My grandpa was there. He didn't talk about it much but I'll never forget the stories. He was one of the last ones out as he was a medic. They were ordered to destroy medical equipment and he got into an arguement with his superious as he felt the equipment could be used by german doctors to cure those that had to be left behind. He took a paddle steamer back and they had to run through another ship that got stuck to escape. They then had to run from either side of the ship to help steer the boat out of the way of bombs. It was all quite tense.

[ives]

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." - Winston S. Churchill

[kurtcobain]

The French rear guard deserve so much credit for the success of the whole operation. Their valiant defence against the Germans were pivotal in allowing the troops to be evacuated.

[ChickenWings]

I used to work at Dover Castle where Churchill and Ramsay planned out the Dunkirk evacuations from the secret tunnels there. We'd always meet people who served/volunteered, and it was always a pleasure to hear their stories. This is certainly one of the biggest turning points in the war and not many people understand why, so thanks a lot for covering it!

[dmh]

My grandfather was evacuated from dunkirk. He said that the jetty they had built to get out into the sea a bit further was obliterated by a bomb when he was around 100 yards out

[ives]

"The sea from Dunkirk to Dover during these days of the evacuation looked like any coastal road in England on a bank holiday. It was solid with shipping." - Douglas Bader

[Regal]

Yes, I saw several documentaries where several German officers quietly said among themselves they knew they had lost the war after Dunkirk.

[emmanuela.zozobrado]

I love these videos. they are very informative, the narration is great

[Anton-kpmi]

19:08 There was not 40 000 french and 40 000 English pows but 40 000 pows in all, about 35 000 being french troops who had covered the evacuation until the last bullet.

[jonathonlyles]

My great grandfather was in 1st infantry division and was on Normandy beach he made it to Paris on foot before getting wounded and sent back home but yea ol Gramps crazy he made it through d day

[OdysseyABMS]

the dedication to your daily uploads is insane bro i love you

[ives]

"We were all flying around up and down the coast near Dunkirk looking for enemy aircraft which seemed also to be milling around with no particular cohesion." - Douglas Bader

[twisten]

Love your content always worth the watch

[demarcusfaulkner]

Thank you infographics I've learned a lot from you.

[mirkotorca]

Thinking that 400 000 soldiers could have been evacuated without a single death just by coincidence and maneuvering skills of British Navy is simply naive and insane.

[johnsullivan]

The best resource on This battle is ‘The miracle at Dunkirk’. It is well researched and very well written. It is a good book as a story as well as history, which is rare.

[paulinecabbed]

Some of Churchill speeches were very poetic and memorable

[logangreene]

Hi, the Infographics Show. My name is Logan Hayes, and I've been a really big fan of your awesome YouTube channel over the years ever since I was a small boy growing up, and I was wondering if I could ask you about two what if scenarios in a possible future video, if you would like to hear about them from me or not?

[brainiacworld]

I like how civilians helped get Allied Soldiers over to England

[ives]

"They fought as they revelled, fast, fiery, and true, And, though victors, they left on the field not a few; And they who survived fought and drank as of yore, But the land of their heart's hope they never saw more, For in far, foreign fields, from Dunkirk to Belgrade Lie the soldiers and chiefs of the Irish Brigade." - Thomas Davis