British Army?

Question

What was the real reason why the Germans stopped the fight with the British army and allowed them to escape across the channel from Dunkirk

Answer 1

What would have happened if he had annihilated the British on the beaches?

That's the question.

I have reasoned, the mass slaughter of so many defenseless people in one place would have had all kinds of negative ramifications, not least within the ranks of the German forces themselves. Worldwide condemnation, and the Wrath returned from the British, I imagine would have been a spectacle. It would have also have left a mark on their history. It was simply a bad idea in many ways.

The other Idea I had has already been mentioned. He didn't hide his admiration for the British way of life. It wasn't Cricket.

Or course he eventually lost patients and the rest is history.

Answer 2

There have been many different thoughts put forward on this but no one knows for sure. The Luftwaffe answer is good. Also there is the thought that the blitzkrieg had taken too much out of the German army and it was time for them to rest a bit. In the Gulf War the American army had to stop and rest after covering so much territory it such a short amount of time. It is also thought that perhaps Hitler thought that Britain might seek a peace with Germany. Not destoying the British Army might be viewed as a good gesture by Germany and therefore bring on peace talks. Another idea is that Hitler was just too concerned with starting an atttack on Russia and really didn't care about a fight with Britain. I have read all the above views some even made by people in the German high command. If they didn't really know who does?

Answer 3

There are a few views as to why this happened.

Many historians suspect that Hitler did not want to crush Britain as he harbours hopes that he can turn Britain to his side & that allowing the BEF to evacuate France at Dunkirk was an offering of peace to the Brits. This could also be the reason why Hitler also eventually scrapped Operation Sealion (the German invasion of the British isle).

Militarily, Hitler belived Hermann Goering's boasts that the Luftwaffe could destroy the BEF & other Allied forces on the beaches of Dunkirk & prevent the evavcuation from taking place & Goering, being a boastful person, wanted to show his military "ingenuity" to the German generals.

Also, Hitler apparently lost his nerves when some British tanks attacked the northern flank on the stretched panzer forces heading westwards & northwestwards, with limited success (the success could have been on a greater scale if the French had delivered a corresponding attack on the Germans' southern flank as promised to the British). The subsequent 3 days' stop on Hitler's order was based on his fear of further attacks on his lines of movement & wanted to consolidate & replenish his forces by allowing the infantry & support units to catch up with the panzer spearheads.

Answer 4

Actually, the British and French forces were driven to Dunkirk by armored forces. Once they were trapped in that pocket, German forces were commanded to stand down and regroup to fight the French forces south of them. Also armor (tanks and etc.) didn't do well in Dunkirk's terrain so the German Luftwaffe did continuous bombing of the beaches and boats that were evacuating the soldiers and actually suffered some casualties but not as much if the German forces did really attacked them.

Answer 5

Goering wanted to demonstrate the supposed power of the Luftwaffe by bombing the trapped Allied troops instead of overrunning them.

This of course failed and the bulk of the British/Allied forces escaped across the channel.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

BRITISH ARMY = IMPERIALIST ARMY