The Dunkirk Evacuation

[@randalscott7224]

A little side note. One of Churchill's "little ships" was owned and operated by Charles Lightoller, the most senior officer to survive the Titanic. He served in the Royal Navy during WW1 and was decorated twice for gallantry. When the call went out he, his son Roger and young sea scout Gerald Ashcroft set off in his yacht "Sundowner" and managed to return 127 British servicemen. Unknown to him his second son Trevor had already been evacuated. The character portrayed by Mark Rylance in the 2017 movie was loosely based on Lightoller.

[@EAWanderer]

Oooh is that so? Wow.😯

[@MrT------5743]

I looked for this comment cause I was going to say the same thing. Lightoller was the 2nd officer on the Titanic. Another side story for him. The Carpathia, the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors, it's first officer was Lightollers best man at his wedding.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

I heard this too .

[@ZekeGraal]

If anyone is interested in Lightoller, he has an autobiography called "Titanic and other ships." It is an excellent read.

[@johnbernsen6145]

...And as the surviving officer, he was damn near railroaded by White Star.

[@nigelhamilton815]

My dad was taken of the beaches at Dunkirk . He told me once , in a rare occasion when he talked about his war , that all the troops on his boat stripped and dumped their clothes and equipment overboard. This made room for as many men as possible.

[@babscabs1987]

That's amazing, thank you for sharing

[@IanAlcorn]

Legends.

[@ScottGladstein]

Not many people would fail to see the value of life like you, but here we are.

[@Sergiblacklist]

@Ruán Conán so his dad was supposed to take in the Germans alone ?

[@jo-annebotha9609]

@Ruán Conán why would you say this?

[@mtevilone]

One of my best friend’s father, was rescued from Dunkirk. He was a US Citizen who joined the Canadian Army, to help in the fight. Later he was a member of the US 101st Airborne. I did not find out until after his passing. A quiet, unassuming man.

[@Gasoline105]

Thanks for mentioning the french and belgians holding the lines. That's usually ignored. My great grandfather, whom I was lucky enough to know, was an artillery sergeant at the fort of Eben Emael. One of those who spotted the unmarked german gliders. Reported to his captain,asking if they should shoot them down. As the captain refused to act without orders, by the time it was clear that they where hostile, it was too late. He then followed the rest of the army to Dunkirk. There, he manned a machine gun position at the outskirts of the town until the british had evacuated. When he tried to board one of the last british boats, they kicked him out with rifle butts. So much for the white flag reputation. He was left on the beach and spent the rest of the war in a stallag.

[@kasession]

Your Great Grandfather spent the rest of the war as a POW? That he survived is an accomplishment in itself.

[@justonecornetto80]

Bullshit!

[@youtube-handle-are-a-joke]

@@justonecornetto80 why do you think it's bullshit? That he was kicked out from the boat or he survived the stalag? My grandfather that I never met was sent to a stalag and spent a little over 4 years there, just to die in 47 from all the diseases and malnutrition he suffered there.

[@claytonberg721]

the idea that the french are cowards is nothing but bullshit. France was betrayed by both their and the british brass. And the Maquis were under constant threat.

[@justonecornetto80]

@@youtube-handle-are-a-joke More like he tried to force his way onto a ship carrying the wounded. That happened a lot during the evacuation and if the British were so heartless, why did they bother to evacuate 120000 French soldiers as well? Not that it was worth it because nearly all of them asked to be repatriated to France knowing full well that they would become prisoners of war. Funny how the French and Belgians expected the British to defend them but weren't prepared to return the favour.

[@TheTeeroy32]

Lest we forget. Those 40 000 French boys at the end were absolute legends.

[@theemissary1313]

I remember a story from my grandfather about when he was evacuated at Dunkirk - All officers and non-coms were on top because if the ship sank they had best chance of survival, not a perk, but a necessity for retrained new troops and leading a counter invasion. Also all troops in his ship were told that for the journey the doors would be locked, because if the Luftwaffe holed the ship, there would be airtight compartments to keep the rest afloat. If your compartment was hit... well, take one for the team. Apparently, all troops were told this in brutal honesty and not one soldier complained. Harrowing, yet inspiring. Further note of no relevance, due to circumstances, my granddad boarded the ship naked but for a coat donated by one of his soldiers (he was Sergeant). This was surprisingly common.

[@andersjjensen]

This is a soldiers life: "Some of you may die. If your number is up you must accept it and act in a way that improves the chances of others.... As they will do for you."

[@wolfecanada6726]

Those who serve know that oftentimes this will be an unfortunate result of our service. We join with our eyes open, or they're opened for you very quickly.

[@brad4057]

The London fire brigade sent a fire boat but the crew had no idea where Dunkirk was so the stopped off on the way at herne Bay pier and sent a fire man to get a map from the shops...legends

[@andersjjensen]

"If it's stupid and it works.. it ain't stupid!" :P

[@TheHiddenHistoryChannel]

My grandad was evacuated from Dunkirk. I visited the beach for the first time just the other day. Vast, cover-less and a sitting duck to aerial attack. The evac is one of the greatest stories of all time. Though the tiny snippets I’ve heard about the actual experiences of those on the beach are horrifying. The rearguard action (special mention to the French), resolve of the men who made it out, the actions of the RAF and, of course, the Navy and little ships are just incredible.

[@pawelkorzeniewski4897]

Staying in the WW2 theme, and just as you mentioned in the outro, perhaps a full video about the largely untold story of the Polish underground resistance?

[@SkinpShorts]

I'm sure a film was made about this a while ago, Defiance with Daniel Craig. I may be wrong, can't remember if it was french or polish resistance who lived in a forest and attacked the Nazis from behind the frontline.

[@aceman67]

The Canadian navy in WW2 was truely something to be reckoned with. Protecting convoys in the North Atlantic largely fell to ships bearing the HMCS prefix, all crewed with men like Clouston. Canadian ships, particularly the Tribal-Class destroyers, earned the reputation for being aggressive and 'blood-thirsty', so much so that British Naval Squadron commanders assigned Canadian ships would ask for them to be reassigned. Canada pioneered innovative sub-hunting techniques that are still used today, with the Canadian navy training ally naval personnel in them.

[@stevethon2444]

Truth. Canadian Sailors know ASW better than most.

[@jbrown2905]

It hasn’t been mentioned as yet, but within the movie THE DARKEST HOUR is, I think, a very candid and dramatic presentation of this very episode with so much valuable back story as well.

[@BastuGubbar]

Darkest hour and dunkirk are best watched back-to-back.

[@rwm2986]

You didn't mention Mother Nature's contribution with some unusually fine weather that resulted in unexpectedly calm seas that must have helped the 'little ships.'

[@ignitionfrn2223]

6:00 - Chapter 1 - Operation dynamo (05/26 to 05/28) 9:00 - Chapter 2 - 05/29 to 06/04 12:10 - Chapter 3 - The cost 14:55 - Chapter 4 - "We will never surrender"

[@matthewlentz2894]

A true megaproject. I always tear up when I hear about Dunkirk.

[@palestalemale1779]

It's amazing that Dunkirk - scene of one of Britain's greatest military defeats - has become such a symbol of resistance and victory.

[@palestalemale1779]

@Ruán Conán I think the Dunkirk spirit was brilliant propaganda appealing to the British sense of quiet determination and sympathy for the underdog. And it was necessary to gird the nation for the long journey to defeat the evil of Nazi fascism.

[@heathergarnham9555]

Discretion is the better part of valour, retreat and live to fight another day. The same occurred with the evacuation of Tobruk

[@fumblerooskie]

Thank you for recognizing Clouston. He has for too long been completely ignored outside of Canada.

[@marcoreus3091]

those who stayed behind and held the line while the evacuation was taking place deserved praise too

[@SquirrelArmyStudios2015]

The story of Dunkirk always fascinates me. One of my grandparents was on that beach. Without that evacuation I probably wouldn’t exist today.

[@PaulsScene]

I sort of have the opposite, and it gives me a headache to think about it. I discovered this when I researched my family tree (my grandmother never ever spoke of it.) My grandmother married just before the war, then her husband was killed in action on June 1st 1940 in the middle of the Dunkirk evacuation. After the war, she married my grandfather. It seems bizarrely morbid and bitter-sweet that without the tragedy of her new husband being one who _didn't_ get away, then my mother and her siblings would never have been born. Me, my mother, my brother, my nephews, my aunts, uncle and cousins... none of us would exist. My dad would be around somewhere, but would likely be someone else's father. It feels... wrong.

[@Greatblue56]

Some of your best work yet Simon. Thank you! ❤️

[@r.c.drummrboy2899]

Dowding’s refusal to send more squadrons to France was around May 16, 1940, not while the evacuation was occurring as the narrative suggested. Had he sent more planes, they would have been lost.

[@fictionstupidgoogle1027]

This is fascinating. Can I suggest for maybe a Sideproject other instances of Civilian and Military working together for a 'greater good' like this. One that I can think of that is boat related is the Cajun Navy that was in force after Katrina, its nowhere near the same scale but both are a good representation of what humanity can do for good.

[@francispitts9440]

I’m not any kind of historical expert but I do read a lot of available books about WW II and this incident has always been a powerful point in the war. It’s truly amazing just how many civilians got in their boats with minimal fuel and supplies and faced a dangerous military attack by a capable German military force. It’s even worse considering how brutal and sweeping their actions were. People suggest the German military leaders held back allowing the French and British to escape but I feel it’s more likely that the fierce British military troops were and how the families and friends back home would risk everything to help their children and neighbors. That’s what I feel made it successful and it may have even shocked the German forces with this miraculous rescue that was able to happen so quickly. It’s loyalty and love that made it happen. It’s at the core of why I deeply respect the people of the United Kingdom. They are genuinely decent people who want law and order for everyone. It may not be exactly like our American freedom but it’s where we got our inspiration from. Maybe the average German soldier was actually hoping the Brits would make it to safety, I don’t know but I know soldiers do have a basic respect for other soldiers albeit even though they are the enemy. It’s just a realization that we don’t hold any personal anger. It’s warfare. When I served it was the Cold War years. I never felt anything negative about the average Soviet soldier. I wasn’t pleased with their government but they didn’t have any power over that. The Dunkirk battle and evacuation is similar in nature to the Spartans holding off the enemy that outnumbered them in that pass. The best people come together when it gets real. Especially the Brits.

[@kylarstern7627]

Outstanding Sir, very well put indeed. And thank you, im an Australian and not an American, but I do thank you for your service Sir.

[@francispitts9440]

@@kylarstern7627 I appreciate your nice words. Best of luck to you and your family. Happy New Year too.

[@kylarstern7627]

@@francispitts9440 And to you and yours My Friend.

[@MKdross]

There were actually way more than 300 soldiers from Sparta at Thermopylae; the 300 only referred to spartiates and ignores the thousands of helots (slaves of the Spartan state) and free but not spartiate soldiers (perioikoi). There were likely a few thousand men, though it's impossible to know the exact number. Still an outnumbered force, but very far from only three hundred fighting men.

[@duncancurtis1758]

No Dunkirk no Battle of Britain No Battle of Britain no Michael Caine and his broken golf bats.

[@TheDailyRant2023]

A great story told superbly. One of the better videos about Dunkirk I've seen. Top marks.

[@hosmerhomeboy]

Simon should do one on the retreat at gallipoli. It was an act of subterfuge on a massive scale. Tens of thousands of men, snuck out from under the guns of the enemy, with basically zero losses, and 100% secrecy.

[@jackconnelly4525]

Yes ,good idea.

[@connienelson1515]

So many don't realize how important and difficult this rescue was at the time, not only for the war but for all the men saved. Thank God for the civilians and their bravery and determination.

[@denfranke4464]

Very well told Simon. I must say I had some lumps in my throat that I had to clear while hearing about these amazing tales of bravery. And that does not occur often. Well done 👍

[@robynpicknell7801]

In my opinion, I believe this episode of Megaprojects to be, quite simply, one of Simon's finest ever. Congratulations to both the researcher/s and the scriptwriter of this episode that Simon has so brilliantly and beautifully narrated. Kudos to all involved!

[@cesaravegah3787]

One of the heroes of Dunkirk was Goering who stupidly convinced Hitler that a land attack wasnt necesary and the Luftwaffe would be able to destroy the retraoting allied forces.

[@jessejoyce1295]

Yes, this is rather ironically true, not mentioned in the video though

[@andrewrowland7640]

My grandfather was at Dunkirk. He was one of the sappers who took out the bridges. He was awarded the DCM. He told me that, the only thing that stopped him from getting Victoria's Cross was that he lived.

[@themightymoose5047]

One of my favorites thus far. Truly well done.

[@meighanlynne]

Dunkirk is an amazing story and I appreciate your great video. Another great boat lift was on 9/11 in Manhattan evacuating the island when the bridges were closed after the attacks. Another case of civilians coming together to help their fellow man.

[@jcheck1107]

If anything says “keep a stiff upper lip” it’s Dunkirk

[@itsapittie]

The evacuation was absolutely vital to the eventual outcome of the war in that the 300,000 repatriated soldiers not only meant Britain still had an army in some realistic sense, but they also formed the core which would train and lead the army in later years. In war, there's absolutely no substitute for experience.

[@andersjjensen]

No there isn't.. a few well equipped squats of battle hardened solders who know the terrain like their own pocket can take out an entire platoon of rookies fresh out of boot camp before they ever get the chance to learn of the horrible ways in which war is dealt.

[@itsapittie]

@@andersjjensen and a company of newbies with a sprinkling of veterans in key positions is exponentially more lethal than a company of all-new soldiers. This may have been the most important long-term result of the Dunkirk evacuation.

[@andersjjensen]

@@itsapittie Yes absolutely. To both. :)

[@georgewilliams8448]

I have a small quibble with your description of the lead up to the Dunkirk evacuation. The Nazi/German forces did go around the Maginot Line the invasion of Belgium was mainly a feint with the main attack went through a lightly defended area of the border of France, Germany and Belgium called the Ardennes which most French planners did not think could be moved through in large numbers. The Germans were able to move through the area brushing aside the light forces stationed there.

[@jordanwilliams9300]

I just rewatched the "Home" scene of Dunkirk yesterday. It gets to me every time 😭

[@amandajones661]

I didn't know I would end up crying today, but here I am. 😭😭😭😭

[@jurgenskrause]

Hi Simon, your presenting style is much improved from earlier videos. Your more relaxed speech make s your videos much more watchable and is very much appreciated. Please keep up the great content.

[@tyronethurling1976]

Don't ever stop doing megaprojects videos

[@Roderickdl]

Wow what timing. Earlier today I watched Darkest Hour with Gary Oldman.

[@nickmauldin8825]

Love this one. Check out the boat lift on 9/11 in NY. 500,000 were evacuated in 9 hours. Would be great to hear you do one on that.

[@sandhilltucker]

French Waiter: "I'm sorry Madame.." Mallory Archer: "For what!? Dunkirk?!"

[@jaybee9269]

Fun fact: Lots of the rescued French soldiers were repatriated soon after the evacuation…

[@MrGouldilocks]

And most of the repatriated French soldiers were quickly taken into custody and held prisoner in Germany through the end of the war.

[@obscureoccultist9158]

Thought the French soldiers were either given a choice to continue fighting under the free French or to be repatriated?

[@MrGouldilocks]

@@obscureoccultist9158 they were given a choice, and the vast majority of the French decided to return home. Its understandable though; a lot of the soldiers hadn't seen their families in weeks or months and must have been worried sick seeing as how much of the country was an active battleground.

[@aq5426]

Amazing work as always, y'all.

[@DanteTheAbyssalBeing]

My great Grandad was among the last to leave the beach. He was a Royal engineer tasked with destroying British equipment so the Germans couldn't use it. After Dunkirk he ended up in Africa, then Sicily and finally the Far East. Never spoke about the war but my Mum and Nana said he was a changed man when he eventually got back to Britain.

[@DanteTheAbyssalBeing]

@Ruán Conán So edgy

[@eggshellgoesgaming]

There is ongoing resistance against evil in this world. However, only if that evil is defeated will history record that resistance as heroic. We must always remember that the history of wars is told by the winners.

[@drscopeify]

Germans brought to the USA wrote much of the history themselves so it just was not the case of winner writes history, Germans wrote it themselves. However, this was not the standard 2 sides of a coin, they were pure evil, Htler wanted an Arian pure Germanic DNA world and everyone else to be either dead, slave or a subject. If Htler had been successful, the USA not join the war and Soviets lost to Germany, they would have probably enslaved or killed everyone non Arian Germanic in Europe and would have placed severe toll on British people. I can only imagine how Britain would have ended up much like nations Japan conquered like China or Korea and systematically destroyed their populations.

[@TisMePyper.S]

My great Grandfather was rescued from Dunkirk. Word has it that he swam out to one of the boats. And it also solves a puzzle as to where he went afterwards. He deserted his original family and found a new one.

[@LIKWID]

Spent many a childhood holiday sailing out of Scarborough Harbour on the pleasure cruises on-board the Regal Lady and the Coronia. Both ships that aided the evacuation and both now preserved. The coronia, then known as HMS Watchful is now in Hartlepool Harbour whilst the Regal Lady known as Oulton Belle still resides in Scarborough's Harbour. I have a massive appreciation for them, having grown up to understand just what they achieved. Worth a visit for anyone interested 👍

[@jackcartier7509]

Just a couple of interesting comments: My late father was one of the evacuees, aged 19. It is often reported that the Luftwaffe were largely absent from the air over the Dunkirk beaches - but my father always insisted that the skies were, at times, 'black' with German 'planes which could, if commanded, have decimated the Allied troops below them. At Christmas, my father always made a point of donating money to the Salvation Army: He explained to us that, upon their return to England following the evacuation, they were pretty much 'dumped' on the south coast & left to fend for themselves. It was the Salvation Army who helped to organise things, who contacted their families for them, and who arranged their rail travel home. He never forgot this, nor, I think, should we.

[@everydayhero5076]

I am not a citizen of the UK but, damn, this story always makes me feel proud of the British people for coming together to rescue the British, French, Belgian, and Polish soldiers.

[@essexginge9167]

the people of the UK are not citizen's we are subjects

[@everydayhero5076]

@@essexginge9167 Uh, OK. I didn't call you a citizen of the UK, but... citizen [ˈsidizən, ˈsidisən] NOUN a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized. subject [subject] NOUN a citizen or member of a state other than its supreme ruler.

[@marvwatkins7029]

One of Simon's best.

[@ZekeGraal]

I just finished rewatching this. Darkest Hour is also a good watch when watching Dunkirk. They go well next to each other.

[@theclandestinewitness]

Great video choice. There are so many layers of this entire mission that are so inspiring. From the civilians who sailed their own personal boats to evacuate those on the beaches to those who held the line against the advancing Germans so their buddies could escape. Truly embodies the British spirit from the war.

[@abbofun9022]

Excuse me? and how about all those French and Belgian soldiers that died to allow the British to escape? The arrogance of the Brits is sometimes truly obnoxious.

[@traviscosby1016]

@@abbofun9022 many of them were evacuated by the British too.

[@abbofun9022]

@@traviscosby1016 some where indeed but it is extremely rude to just call the whole affair British when so many non-Brits paid the ultimate price to allow these, mainly British, troops escape.

[@traviscosby1016]

@@abbofun9022 I think you're reading too much in to it. I never got the impression that the op thought it was a just a British affair. He just said it embody the British spirit. Which it does. That doesn't mean it was just the British or that the other allies weren't involved. It honestly seems like you just want to be mad about something.

[@traviscosby1016]

Also the number of French evacuated was 100,000 that's quite a lot by any measure.

[@michaelhowell2326]

Operation Dynamo is one of the most spectacular successful failures in modern history. It ranks just behind the Apollo 13 mission in that category.

[@punditgi]

Beautiful video, Simon. Well done, sir!

[@rebeccachrystal162]

The Gallipoli campaign and what it means to Australia and New Zealand would be an interesting video, either for this channel or warographics.

[@sebaseba6710]

Deffo would be pretty cool

[@henryblackburn3031]

A Spitfire MK1 would be a great video!

[@lextex3280]

Great video. Anything to do with Dunkirk hits a nerve, as my grandfather was severely injured at Dunkirk, he was with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

[@eliaswreford4523]

The Mackinaw Bridge would be a cool one for mega projects! And thanks Simon, I love this channel!!!

[@pancholopez8829]

Wow, this was a great video, Simon. Think you might do the British daring raid, Operation Chastise by the Dambusters? Would be interesting to hear from ya.

[@jovanweismiller7114]

Dunkirk (a ballad) By Robert Nathan, 2 January 1894 -25 May 1985 Will came back from school that day, And he had little to say. But he stood a long time looking down To where the gray-green Channel water Slapped at the foot of the little town, And to where his boat, the Sarah P, Bobbed at the tide on an even keel, With her one old sail, patched at the leech, Furled like a slattern down at heel. He stood for a while above the beach, He saw how the wind and current caught her; He looked a long time out to sea. There was steady wind, and the sky was pale, And a daze in the east that looked like smoke. Will went back to the house to dress. He was half way through, when his sister Bess Who was near fourteen, and younger than he By just two years, came home from play. She asked him, "Where are you going, Will?" He said, "For a good long sail." "Can I come along?" "No, Bess," he spoke. "I may be gone for a night and a day." Bess looked at him. She kept very still. She had heard the news of the Flanders rout, How the English were trapped above Dunkirk, And the fleet had gone to get them out But everyone thought that it wouldn't work. There was too much fear, there was too much doubt. She looked at him, and he looked at her. They were English children, born and bred. He frowned her down, but she wouldn’t stir. She shook her proud young head. ”You’ll need a crew,” she said. They raised the sail on the Sarah P, Like a penoncel on a young knight's lance, And headed the Sarah out to sea, To bring their soldiers home from France. There was no command, there was no set plan, But six hundred boats went out with them On the gray-green waters, sailing fast, River excursion and fisherman, Tug and schooner and racing M, And the little boats came following last. From every harbor and town they went Who had sailed their craft in the sun and rain, From the South Downs, from the cliffs of Kent, From the village street, from the country lane. There are twenty miles of rolling sea From coast to coast, by the seagull's flight, But the tides were fair and the wind was free, And they raised Dunkirk by fall of night. They raised Dunkirk with its harbor torn By the blasted stern and the sunken prow; They had reached for fun on an English tide, They were English children bred and born, And whether they lived, or whether they died, They raced for England now. Bess was as white as the Sarah's sail, She set her teeth and smiled at Will. He held his course for the smoky veil Where the harbor narrowed thin and long. The British ships were firing strong. He took the Sarah into his hands, He drove her in through fire and death To the wet men waiting on the sands. He got his load and he got his breath, And she came about, and the wind fought her. He shut his eyes and he tried to pray. He saw his England were she lay, The wind’s green home, the sea's proud daughter, Still in the moonlight, dreaming deep, The English cliffs and the English loam He had fourteen men to get away, And the moon was clear, and the night like day For planes to see where the white sails creep Over the black water. He closed his eyes and prayed for her; He prayed to the men who had made her great, Who had built her land of forest and park, Who had made the seas an English lake; He prayed for a fog to bring the dark; He prayed to get home for England's sake. And the fog came down on the rolling sea, And covered the ships with English mist. The diving planes were baffled and blind. For Nelson was there in the Victory, With his one good eye, and his sullen twist, And guns were out on The Golden Hind, Their shot flashed over the Sarah P. He could hear them cheer as he came about. By burning wharves, by battered slips, Galleon, frigate, and brigantine, The old dead Captains fought their ships, And the great dead Admirals led the line. it was England's night, it was England's sea. The fog rolled over the harbor key. Bess held to the stays, and conned him out. And all through the dark, while the Sarah's wake Hissed behind him, and vanished in foam, There at his side sat Francis Drake, And held him true, and steered him home.

[@Ellie49]

Oh, my goodness. This brings tears to my eyes. (I'm an American, by the way.)

[@jovanweismiller7114]

@@Ellie49 So was the author of the poem. And I've read the poem dozens of times and I never fail to tear up.

[@ktipuss]

Lots of unanswered questions about Dunkirk, including from the German side. It's true that Goering offered to clean up the beachhead using the Luftwaffe (and remember that U.S. Navy fliers did exactly that to the Japanese at Midway exactly 2 years later, so quite possible). Maybe also the German commanders were concerned about the unusual speed of their advance and were worried about being led into a trap. They need not have worried, for when Churchill asked French commander Gamelin: "Where is the strategic reserve?" Gamelin, with a shrug said: "Aucune- there is none." Pertinax's book "The Grave Diggers of France" goes a long way in explaining the French Debacle in 1940.

[@sparkybolt2085]

Have you ever done a video of the evacuation of Manhattan Island after 9/11? I dug into it last year and its truly a fascinating topic. I heard it being called the largest naval evacuation since Dunkirk.

[@rcagoon1969]

This fella knows his onions. And very good presentations. Great channel. Please tell me you're not related to Jon Snow!?!! Not the GOT one. The other one. Ugh

[@killman369547]

Freedom is much like electricity. It takes the path of least resistance, and when no path is available, it creates it's own.

[@jtd8719]

A bit disappointed that you hardly mentioned Admiral Ramsay. He ran the rescue effort from an old powerplant near the coast - hence 'Dynamo'. The outpouring of civilian craft was organized in large part by his command. Incidentally, he was at the time (and for at least half of the war) officially on the Retired List. He was knighted for his efforts to evacuate the BEF and other troops. He went on to be Eisenhower's naval deputy and headed up the planning for the naval operations around the Normandy invasion. Tragically, he was killed in a plane crash late in the war after moving his flag to France.

[@finnmcool2]

This is just one of example of the enormous NO from darned near everyone within 5000 miles of Germany during the second world war. The Nazis suffered a untold tiny cuts from all and sundry that kept them from recovering from every military setback. Hell, Russian farmers burning everything they had so the Nazi army couldn't find food made me cry when I heard about it in school.

[@mathieubrebouillet714]

I have heard a lot of stories, as a french, about how the british abandonned and betrayed the french who held the lines at Dunkirk, telling them they would come back or kicking them off the boats.

[@BioLegacy141]

Well, 75,000 French and Belgian troops were evacuated, more than half the combined 115,000. Did that happen, probably. Was it as wide spread as some people like to make it out to be. Probably not.

[@baddadjoker9570]

Yes! Excellent idea for a topic

[@tonywellard458]

Best recount I've ever heard and I've listened to many

[@tonywellard458]

I would love to save ENA, she is rotting away on the Medway

[@johnsamsungs5561]

No such things as miracles or magic! But hard work, courage and luck!

[@michaelevans7247]

Brilliant as Usual Simon, My Ask is How About the 2nd Dunkirk, St Valery, Keep up the good work.

[@brandonblackfyre5783]

It goes to show what humans can and will adapt too. Civilians that had no military experience would risk their life and limbs to go out on their OWN boats to save soldiers from a hostile land. I remember hearing from a couple civilians that they were only 16 years old and were going to join the military when they were 18 years old. They each had small motor boats that were made to only hold 4 people max but they took those 2 motor boats out and drove across the channel by themselves even though their Mothers and family forbid them, they couldn't stop them. Those two 16 year olds drove across the channel and showed up at Dunkirk with two small boats and pulled up to the beach and loaded as many people as they could possibly carry without sinking. The boats were only made for 4 people, even tho it was recommended to only have 2 people on the boat but regardless of this the two 16 year olds packed 10 soliders on the boats and they all had to sit in certain positions and sit completely still to make sure the boats wouldn't tip over. I believe the 10 soliders they took were Officers and high ranking soliders because the two 16 year olds were some of the first boats to make it too Dunkirk. The two 16 year olds said as they were driving away from the beach they would see German planes in the distance doing reconnaissance and they were so scared they were going to be seen and attacked but there were theories that the boats were so small they were very hard targets to hit so the planes didn't waste their ammo or time on something so small. I believe these two 16 year olds made multiple trips and were able to take upwards of 80 soliders off the beach of Dunkirk. Even though 80 soliders isn't really many at all considering there was 300,000 soliders who needed to get off that beach but any little bit counts and those 80 soliders that they were able to rescue were high ranking military officials.... I can't actually find the name of these two 16 year old kids that saved damn near 100 people between the two of them. There were many civilians who rescued soldiers and many movies and documentaries made about them but I cannot find these exact two 16 year olds so if anyone finds them let me know. I know that one of them ended up joining the British Navy and making a great military career out of it. It was said that the British Military actually let him join before he was 18 because of how heroic he was during the Dunkirk evacuation, along with many medals and accommodations... if anyone finds the name of these two amazing kids let me know please! I remember reading this in a History Book as a kid but sadly can't find the book or the name of these kids. There was many other kids and fathers that saved soliders as well so I'm sure theres thousands of names out there!

[@mdhofstee]

This is now the second largest sea evacuation in history. On September 11, 2001 the island of Manhattan had an even larger amount of people that wanted to escape possible attack. The differences are massive as there was not airplanes trying to take out the boats but the risk was not known. The other massive difference is there were few non civilians in this evacuation. This evacuation took only 1 day but under a shorter distance of a few miles versus the 50 plus miles of the Dunkirk to Dover.

[@tonywellard458]

Interesting, I never knew of this

[@mdhofstee]

@@tonywellard458 ​ @Tony Wellard There is a 15 minute documentary on this narrated by Tom Hanks. Pretty good just wish it was longer to be honest. Frankly I would love to see a movie made of this feat. First act be the setup with the attack footage to start off the movie with the 911 emergency calls then at the end of the act have the towers come down. The second act be some of the fellows introduced in the first getting on their boats going to manhattan with the third being Coast Guard call. The third being the fleet of boats heeding the call and starting of the rescue. The fourth some of the craziness that started to happen along with people just not knowing where they are. The final act being the conclusion with a shot of the new wtc tower and as many of the backgrounds of the real people who were portrayed. I could see a movie form of around 20 minutes per act.

[@JL-go3]

This is not about Americans,I know you think everything is about you, its a bit crap you adding that comment on this video considering your country was leaving Britain and its real allies try to fight Nazi onslaught on owe their own.

[@mdhofstee]

@@JL-go3 If you took some time reading this comment you would notice I put a note on the differences between the two evacuations. So why not go back and read them. Both are incredible for different reasons.

[@RowdyRuth]

Great video. I was looking for this evacuation after a Brit reacted to the 9/11 evacuation of Manhattan by boats and mentioned it. This was an Incredible story too.

[@le_souverainiste_francais7420]

Never call the French cowards ever again. And it's written : Dunkerque.

[@mariusschepp5831]

Video idea: the evacuation of Kabul in 2021… if we’re talking about large scale evacuation

[@wayneshrum2142]

I love the channel and you covered many great topics already. Here is a suggestion; Gander ATC rerouting and clearing the airspace of NE Canada of all West bound North Atlantic traffic on 9/11,

[@McFlyOrPie]

🧔You've gone full hipster, with that beard. But, I still approve!!!!🧔

[@paulbradford6475]

I bet Simon rides a fixie, too.

[@jobanh7ify]

Think about it, those men were waiting for ships without knowing if the ships were coming, on the other hand, before I had a car, I got desperate waiting for the bus to the point of becoming anxious and my life was not threatened, you have to admire the composure and courage of those mens in that week of uncertainty.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Remember. Honor. Emulate.

[@ericthompson3982]

One of the single most heroic moments in human history.

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent megaproject video 📹 Brilliant evacuation. Dunkirk meant that , 300, 000 British professional soldiers was saved to fight. In contrast, 300, 000 German soldiers were trapped and murdered by the Russians in Stalingrad. And they lost the war.

[@ArmyMP]

Is "murdered" the right word?

[@owenshebbeare2999]

@@ArmyMP I agree, the Germans were no saints, but the connotation of that word "murder" if definitely wrong in this situation.

[@beachboy0505]

@@ArmyMP thanks 100%, , look up the stats.

[@peter-radiantpipes2800]

Reminds me of the Norm Macdonald joke about Germany. One of the best ever.

[@duncancurtis1758]

Partly thanks to the superb bungling of Addy n Hermy 😆 as Halder watched open mouthed.

[@Error_404-F.cks_Not_Found]

Good shit Simon!!!

[@meirionevans5137]

Epic story, nicely told. Thank you.

[@farmhanddiaries5422]

You should do a video on the cook strait cable an ambitious project to connect two islands with an under sea cable and a massive Dc transmission line to provide power to the north island of New Zealand

[@vustvaleo8068]

the RAF were risking their lives fighting inland but were accused of leaving the beaches undefended, oh how wrong these men were.

[@paulbradford6475]

Well, if I were on that beach fearing for my life, I'd probably blame the RAF too. As a rifleman, you only know what's immediately around you.

[@choughed3072]

@UCpT8jFcCc9EHRC3oRvhi-8w we didn't surrender we evacuated, or have you forgot we came back?

[@angrydoggy9170]

The pilots did what they could with the amount of sorties they were allowed to fly. But a lot of squadrons were kept in England to defend against the expected invasion.

[@demonprinces17]

More right then wrong

[@McAttack21574]

Please do the London & North Eastern Railway A1, A3 & A4 Pacific Locomotives. This includes Flying Scotsman and Mallard the fasted steam loco in the world

[@banksyboy5k]

Please make a video on the Dambusters and the development of the bouncing bomb

[@seanguffey3161]

Love your stuff! Check out the Colorado I-70 Glennwood Canyon Viaduct! Crazy engineering!

[@duncanbrock7303]

Suggestions. Notre Dame that would have had to be a huge project for when it was originally built.

[@kelleymcclure1298]

Not sure if this should be a mega projects or a side project, but what about the MV Golden Ray? It’s the ship filled with cars that capsized off the coast of Georgia. The clean up process was supposed to be a mammoth undertaking

[@IgnitedDevs]

Could you please do a video on the USS Alabama it's my home state and one of my favorite battleships

[@lsxbird7874]

Ww2 raised a generation of people who could not be stopped. True heros and badasses

[@iarissei]

Here's why sea power and air power work together. Relying on just sea craft, the Navy accomplished am amazing mission. Air power could have done the same mission, at least with current tech. But together, they can do things logistically that still boggle my mind. I love you USAF, but we can always be better. Excellence in all we do.

[@Delta2414]

Only the British PR machine could turn a defeat and flight into a victory.

[@ferdinanddestouches3085]

And the same make fun of the French forced to defeat...

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

It's called 'giving people hope'. The British people, given even the merest glimmer of hope, will dig their heels in and show the sort of defiance that drives tyrants into apoplexy.

[@Petitmoi74]

@@the_once-and-future_king. It's very romanticize.

[@mikeyoung9810]

I don't see it as PR. The rescue of the army is what helped turned defeat into victory.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

@@Petitmoi74 Maybe. But it still worked.

[@abcarson]

Suggestion for future Megaprojects... The SED of the Manhattan Project. Special Engineering Detachment, Engineers and scientists recruited into the Army specifically for the Atomic Bomb Project. Very little details are known that maybe your excellent research can uncover.

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

They were the "Greatest Generation" - we stand on the shoulders of giants.

[@mgabrysSF]

Is the host a bearded egg or is his head upside-down? Happy New Year regardless and keep on cracking.