The past is never dead, it isn’t even past
Individuals in conflict can decisively influence the outcome of a battle. Examples abound. Leonidas and his lonely Spartan defence of the narrow pass at Thermopylae in 480 BC against the might of the invading Persian army; an unknown standard bearer from Caesar’s...
Robert Kershaw, many congratulations on The Hill. Why was Crete so important for the Germans to capture? In hindsight one could argue Crete was not so important to capture as it subsequently tied up two fortress infantry divisions and Luftwaffe and shipping assets for...
The 'miracle of Dunkirk' is lauded in British history and folklore as a victory of human endeavor, celebrated each year with a profusion of TV documentary veteran accounts and memorial services. German soldiers constantly referred to the wunder or miracle of reaching...
The British view of Dunkirk is that of an iconic battle, a hugely important morale boost snatched from the jaws of what really was a catastrophic defeat. How is Dünkirchen viewed by the Germans? Dunkirk was viewed by German soldiers as simply a sign-post on the way to...
