Abstract This paper explains the events that led up to the Battle of Dunkirk between the Germans and the Allies in the summer of 1940 during WWII. It looks at the events of the battle and the consequences for the rest of the war.
From the Paper "It was the year of 1940 and during the spring of 1940 the Germans made advances into the Somme. It was during this year that the British retreated to Dunkirk. In Britain, the Battle of Britain happened between July and October and the Blitz on London initiated in September. In the House of Commons Neville Chamberlain had failed in getting the vote of confidence. There was a formation of a coalition government. Labor leaders protested of being servile to Chamberlain. He made his resignation and Winston Churchill was the next prime minister."
Abstract This paper explains that Hitler came to power in post-World War I Germany on a platform of promises to restore German pride, to undo the "humiliation" of the Versailles treaty, restoration of the economy, and hatred of the Jews and Bolshevism. The author believes that Hitler could not rise to power without the support of the German people, who were mesmerized by his emotional speeches and his promises of restoring German ?glory'. The paper points out Hitler's several tactical blunders that eventually led to his ultimate downfall: Dunkirk, where he ordered the halt of a German advance, and the delayed invasion of Russia.
Table of Contents
Hitler's Rise to Power
Prelude to WWII
March into Rhineland
Annexation of Austria
Czechoslovakian Crisis and the Munich Pact
Non-Aggression Pact with USSR
Start of World War II
Blitzkrieg
Pinnacle of Hitler's Power
Battle of Britain
Hitler's Invasion of the USSR: Beginning of the End
Defeats on Other Fronts
From the Paper "Despite their policy of appeasement towards Germany, Britain and France also were wary of Hitler's expansionist designs and had decided that they would declare war if he invaded Poland. Hitler was skeptical about the will of western democracies to fight; and, on September 1, 1939, he decided to "go for broke" by invading Poland against the advice of his Army that felt it was still not ready for an all out war. Britain and France promptly declared war on Germany which signaled the start of World War II."
