Churchill's Second World War: Retreat!

It's been a few days since I finished the first volume of this series. If this was a series of fiction books Churchill would have basically left us with a gigantic cliffhanger knowing that the main thrust of the German war effort would not be finding its way against the French, Belgian, and Dutch armies with the BEF making its efforts to help yet ultimately being forced into the "miracle" at Dunkirk.

Churchill did a very admirable job with this part of his narrative and does well to weave himself into it - most noticeably by way of his several visits to the leaders of the French government such as Paul Reynaud (then Prime Minister of France) and Georges Mandel. Churchill's immediate interactions with these figures give us a few more interesting and very alluring character profiles that I've really fallen in love with. Reynaud comes off as a man attempting to save France and continue the fight but proves incapable of mustering the effort required. Mandel appears the governmental version of Charles de Gaulle - full of bluster and temerity towards the German onslaught. Both Weygand and Gamelin seem considerably out of their depth, the former perhaps coming onto the seen a little too late and the latter for having absolutely no reserves in hand to deliver a decisive counter-attack when the opportunity loomed so large at the apex of the battle. In almost Shakespearean tones Laval seems to be lurking in the wings, waiting his chance to bring France directly in line with the Germans. Curiously Petain is not discussed much, merely tossed aside as a defeatist - which seems too nonchalant for such a mysterious figure. That said the diplomatic battle to keep France in the fight, perhaps in North Africa, and then to get ahold of their fleet, and the small battle to effect a union of Britain and France was I dare say more engrossing than the actual overview of the fighting.

Right now I stand at the start of the Battle of Britain. Churchill has gotten me thoroughly stoked - as early as pg. 238 when he sums up the reaction to the British assault on the French fleet at Oran.

The elimination of the French Navy as an important factor almost at a single stroke by violent action produced a profound impression in every country. Here was this Britain which so many had counted down and out, which strangers had supposed to be quivering on the brink of surrender to the mighty power arrayed against her, striking ruthlessly at her dearest friends of yesterday and securing for awhile to herself the undisputed command of the sea. It was made plain that the British War Cabinet feared nothing and would stop at nothing. This was true.

In addition to this, I'm also really enjoying the amount of maps, tables, and appendix's that were included. Just a treat.