Source B is a photograph of the troops lined up being spoken to on the Dunkirk beaches. This source has very limited usefulness as it does not show who took the photograph and even if we did know a photograph is only a snapshot in time so it tells us nothing of the events that occurred before or after the event. The photograph shows a well organised British army and that they are still brave although they are all alone in enemy lines. I would say it is more supportive of the fact that it was a great deliverance than a disaster as it shows they are a well organised army that are brave and will fight for Britain straight until the end.
Source C shows the troops on the Dunkirk beaches firing on German planes. I am unsure as to why this photograph was taken as it serves no real purpose other than to support the idea that Dunkirk was a great deliverance over a great disaster as it shows that although they were greatly outnumbered they were still brave and never gave up, this is why I feel it was only taken to show people back in Britain that all was not lost and to keep morale up. The photograph is however a snapshot in time and an action shot so it could have been for a different purpose as the photographer is not named.
Source D is an extract from a speech by the Minister of War in 1940. It’s purpose is to boost morale as it uses language such as “seasoned veterans” and “guarantee of final victory.” It is however quite limited as it is going to be government supporting as it was written by the minister of war and at the time there was censorship as to what could be published in the press. The speech shows Dunkirk as a success as it states that the British Expeditionary Force still exists and it has become stronger. However it does refer to the battle when it says that our spirit has been “tried and tempered in the furnace” showing that Dunkirk was not a confident success.
Source E is a newspaper extract from a government backing newspaper the Daily Express. It is propaganda as it has written in bold, emotive language like “ships of all sizes dare the German guns” and “safely to England from Dunkirk.” It is used to appeal to people’s emotion, show that the British still have morale and are brave. It is on the other hand unreliable, as it was written to entertain and it is propaganda so is biased as it shows the war as a major success for Britain. I also know it is unreliable as at the time there was censoring in newspapers and no negative information about the war is allowed to be printed in British press. It does, however, show a use, which was to inform, explain and entertain which tells us it was written for a purpose. Therefore the source shows the event as a great deliverance.
Source F is an extract from “English History” which was published in 1965. It shows a more balanced view of the events and shows it from both views. It says that the men were very brave and well organised, but many aircraft and artillery were lost in the process. This shows that he had written this source based on different primary sources to give a balanced view of the battle. Therefore I would say it shows reasons for the fact that it was a success and a disaster but from a neutral perspective.
In conclusion I feel that Dunkirk is known for a number of reasons, firstly the bravery of the men and the brilliant organisation of the troops on the beaches. On the other hand the army returned to Britain exhausted and tired, they had no weaponry. My view on the matter is that Britain’s organisation was superb but when Britain limped back to mainland the morale was low and without the weaponry it would in my view be remembered more as a disaster.
