8937903
Description
Flashcards by Ritika Mehta, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Ritika Mehta
almost 7 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What technique of the Germans surprised the allies? | The German BLITZKRIEG (lightening war) was very swift |
| When did the Germans invade France? | April 1940 |
| Where were the allied troops trapped? | Between the German army and the cold waters of the English Channel. |
| What was Operation Dynamo? | On 27th May 1940 the British government, led by Winston Churchill put a plan called 'OPERATION DYNAMO into action. The plan was to EVACUATE as many troops to Britain by ship. |
| What kind of ships were used for the evacuation? | Ships from the Royal Navy, pleasure steamers and fishing boats. |
| Why did the French think that the Germans would not be able to fight their way through the defence system? | Because they had built the MAGINOT LINE - huge fortresses on the French - German border. They didn't think that the GERMAN GENERAL VON KLEIST would bypass the Maginot line and go through the ARDENNES FOREST which was a region in BELGIUM since the French thought that it was impossible to move tanks through that region, which exactly what they did. |
| When was the Dunkirk evacuation? | 26th May – 4 June 1940 |
| How many soldiers were rescued? (British and French) | 330,000 British soldiers and 10,000 french troops |
| How many were left behind? | 40, 000 soldiers |
| Who were the soldiers ie; BEF? | The BEF - BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE |
| Why was Dunkirk a defeat? | - The BEF were driven out of Europe - The British troops had left most of their equipment ( especially heavy equipment) behind destroyed or for the Germans such as field guns, anti-aircraft guns, tanks and motor vehicles. - 40, 000 soldiers were left behind |
| How was Dunkirk viewed as in Britain? | As a victory - Small boats rescued 80,000 troops. This was known as the Dunkirk Spirit. |
| What were the soldiers at the beaches of Dunkirk constantly bombed with by the Germans? | With Stuka dive bombers |
| What did Hitler do that enabled the evacuation of Dunkirk? | He ordered the advancing German troops to halt. |
| Why might have Hitler done this? | For reasons not clear however some guesses are: - He wanted to make an alliance with Britain - The German losses were severe ie; tanks - Hitler suspected a trap (?) |
| What famous quote by Winston Churchill described the situation? | " Wars are not won by evacuation..." |
| How did the government and media handle the situation to try and make it look like a victory? Why did they do this? | The media were not allowed to write about it 5 days after the evacuation. They manufactured the ' Dunkirk myth' in the newspapers, radios and other media. They didn't want to damage morale. |
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