Guest Historian Raymond Speer says, Churchill's cabinet loses confidence in their War Leader's mental state after he vows to fight on with the BEF in Captivity. If you're interested in viewing samples of my other work why not visit Raymond Speer site.
| May 31 |  |
Editor says, what if the War Cabinet had overruled Churchill? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1940, the Prime Minister and Attlee strolled around the nine Hurricanes of their air escort. Attlee already knew that the news from Washington was that nothing was going to arrive from the Americans. The Labour leader was not happy that Churchill lived in a fantasy so he expected large US reinforcements of warplanes.
"Suicide by Signature" by Raymond SpeerLater that Friday, arriving back in London as German radio celebrated the surrender of Lord Gort and his British Army, Churchill conferred with his military leaders. Two thousand men had squeezed through the German barricades, many of them trying to swim to ships. A third of a million soldiers and airmen, a third of them French, went into German captivity.
Churchill's last orders as Prime Minister were made on June 1, when the Director of the National Gallery memoed him for permission to send its most valuable paintings to Canada. "No," responded Churchill. "Bury them in caves and cellars. None must go. We are going to beat them".
Soon after breakfast, an unannounced gathering of the whole Cabinet requested the Prime Minister to attend them in the Cabinet Room. "Christ," commented Churchill. "I assumed we would hold out longer than the frogs".
Halifax spoke for the Cabinet, announcing that they had decided to ask Mussolini to sound out Hitler for peace terms. "You don't make peace with That Man," complained Churchill. "You are all committing suicide by signature".
Within five days, the National Gallery was sending selected paintings over to Canada for the duration.
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May 25
Editor says, what if Hitler had ordered Guderian to advance at Dunkirk? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1940, on this day the commander of the British Expedition Force, Gort, decided that his Army woulld evacuate from Dunkirk and he requested full assistance in that task from his country.
Disaster at Dunkirk by Raymond SpeerThe previous day, French General Weygand had noted that the British were fleeing lines they had promised to hold, falling back twenty five miles in order to reach the ports.
Also that Friday, Adolf Hitler had radioed from von Rundstedt's headquarters a question to Hans Gunderian, chief of the Panzers which spearheaded the German offensive. Did Gunderian feel confident in his forces' present order, or would he want to delay his advance and re-organize? Gunderian wanted to go ahead at full speed and Hitler instantly ordered that.
In the coming week, the Nazi armor and infantry arrived at the shore, usually in place before the British came upon them. Brave British units lost heavily trying to brush the enemy away from their only hope of evacuation.
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Raymond Speer
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Fall of Britain Source: Wikipedia Labels: Lord Gort, Siege of Calais, Dunkirk, Battle of France, World War 2.
~ This could have been very much the case, but would Hitler actually do this? Afterall Goring wanted to show off the Luftwaffe, whilst Hitler himself had this stupid idea that the British are Germans too nonsence.
~ There's no telling what Hitler might have done; he was notorious for changing his mind, sometimes repeatedly and for vague reasons.
As for the Fuehrer's views re: the British, he didn't actually believe they were Germans. He believed they were fellow "HNordics" and "Aryans"--which, of course, was still nonsense, but of a different sort.
~ If Hitler had not been so foolish as to send Britain a Peace Gesture by letting them get their army away back to Britain, The Germans would have cut off and destroyed or captured the BEF. Thus depriving Britain the needed regular troops it would need to hold back any German invasion. Even without their heavy weapons, Experienced troops are always formidable. I would say with the inexperienced territorials and raw recruits it had Germany landing any troops on British soil or simply flying them in would result in Britain's immediate collapse with Sealion in something just a little bit more bloody than what happened when Germany occupied the Channel islands. The brits would be Blitz shocked and the Germans well motivated with Final Victory well within their reach. Still, Britain would probably rely upon the Pond (the English Channel) there would be strong belief in resistence being possible but taht would collapse with German troops arriving.
~ If the BEF had been destroyed in France, that would have been it---"game over," as that guy in the movie kept saying. Germany might not be able to invade Britain, but they could consolidate their position in France for several years.
~ Possible but bear in mind that the halt order on the Aa Canal was only the last of several that Hitler, Halder and Rundstedt had tried to impose on Guderian. Everyone was worried about the panzer spearhead getting chopped off in part because everyone over estimated the French army [presuming that the French army would have a worse OODA loop than 1916-18 was simply not credible until after the fact - the defects of French command and doctrine were only clear in retrospect]. Plus on the German situation maps the BEF showed a having a considerable reserve grouped around the Channel Ports. The Germans were quite unaware just how unprepared the second line territorial divisions were. Gort had been using them as labor forces not military units. The German situation maps showed three divisions, lesser units and at least as many a ferry ride away in southern England. That said if Guderian is allowed to make the push he bags the entire BEF at the cost of the second phase of the French campaign being pushed back by 10 days or so.
~ I think Dave raises an interesting question...
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May 24
Editor says, what if Hitler had ordered Guderian to advance at Dunkirk? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1940, Churchill and the five members of his War Cabinet listened in the basement of the House of Commons for news of the BEF's extrication from Dunkirk.
Disaster at Dunkirk by Raymond SpeerForeign Minister Halifax suggested that Britain should accept an offer from Mussolini that Italy would broker a peace between Britain and Germany. "Maybe we will get decent terms," Halifax said, and Churchill had a temper tantrum, predicting that Germany would insist on Britian's enslavement.
Referring to Hitler as "That Man", Churchill said that Hitler would insist on the surrender of the Fleet and would elevate Mosley to be his lieutenant in London. Churchill stated that "I am convinced that every man of you would rise up and tear me down from my place if I was for one mment to contemplate parley or surrender. If our long island story of ours is to end at last, let it end only when each one of us lies choking in his own blood upon the ground".
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Raymond Speer
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Fall of Britain Source: Wikipedia Labels: Lord Gort, Siege of Calais, Dunkirk, Battle of France, World War 2. ~ Wouldn't Churchill look awfully silly if they did at least listen to Hitler's terms---and they were quite acceptable, given that the UK had lost? In RL, Churchill was privately willing to admit to his diaries that he would be willing to cut a deal if it wasn't too onerous.
~ Mosley was not a traitor whatever the UK government thought. Indeed he offered to serve against the Nazis. Second why would Hitler asks for the fleet from unconquered England when he did not do so from prostrate France? Third the British did get the outline of the terms through various third parties while they were stalling for time during the summer of 1940. The only military restriction the Germans were asking for concerned Bomber Command.
~ Not much for me to add here on this one. But the big issue with Churchill and most of Britain's ruling party was Hitler was not a man to be trusted to honor any deal they made with him. He had already proven his villainy ocer Chechoslovakia.
~ Fight!Fight!
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May 30
Editor says, what if Hitler had ordered Guderian to advance at Dunkirk? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1940, Gort informed Churchill that the Expeditionary Force was out of supplies and was sorely pressed by German forces that were concentrating on their perimeter.
Fighting On by Raymond SpeerOn May 30's afternoon, Churchill authorized Gort to capitulate formally and to avoid needless slaughter. But by dinnertime that early evening, Churchill was speaking of contaminating the beaches with poison gas "if that should be to our advantage".
Churchill chose to fly to Paris the late evening of May 30 in order to encourage resistance by the ally. Prime Minister Churchill left behind a Cabinet worried about the soundness of his judgment, knowing that Churchill would risk poisoning his own soldiers in hopes of killing some number of Germans.
In Paris, Churchill and his companion, Clement Attlee, looked to Premier Reynaud and General Petain like civilians dumbfounded by their loss of their Land Army. A call up of civilians for national defense would raise three divisions. Also Canada could be expected to raise an infantry force that could be shipped to France to carry on opposition to Germany from western France.
"All we have to do is fight on," said Churchill, "and we will conquer". The translator for Churchill broke down and openly cried. "If either of us collapse, we shall be vassals and slaves forever".
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Raymond Speer
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Fall of Britain Source: Wikipedia Labels: Lord Gort, Siege of Calais, Dunkirk, Battle of France, World War 2. ~ Churchill was about one-third genius and two-thirds nutcase.
~ Had Petain been brought into the government by 30 May? Also would the Tory caucus in Commons have kept Churchill on after such a disaster?
~ Considering that Churchill made similar statements to Singapore in their hour of peril and they still surrendered, I suspect Churchill's speaches would have drivewn everyone to go for thier white handkerchiefs and rush to German lines as quickly as possible.
~ I think this must be the third Guderian TL we've had this week, LOL...
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May 25
Editor says, what if Churchill had refused to accept defeat at Dunkirk? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1940, heavy bombardment by the Luftwaffe joined German cannon in saturating would-be evacuation beaches. By midnight May 25, the Navy reported that the Germans were on all the beaches and were preventing the BEF from leaving them.
Slaughter at Dunkirk by Raymond SpeerChurchill suggested that a major raid be made for the purpose of clearing at least one Dunkirk port. "It will be a complete surprise for the foe". The general's comment to the Prime Minister was that his project would be a slaughter.
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Fall of Britain Source: Wikipedia Labels: Winston Churchill, Siege of Calais, Dunkirk, Battle of France, World War 2.comments powered by Disqus
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