What was the greatest strength of the British people during the Battle of Dunkirk? (now the 70th Anniversary!)?

Take a look at this link: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8707657.stm

Then give me YOUR thoughts on what you think was the greatest strength of a lone island nation!

For me, it was the intestinal fortitude of never giving up, never relinquishing, and against all odds they forged a defense and then went on the offense. I will always be forever grateful for the "stand you all took" in 1939! PM and Sir Winston Churchill was the best leader, the best person, the guy with "gutts and poxy" and to boot he had American blood in him too! Hard to believe that some think PM Chamberlain was a better PM than Churchill.
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Update: I want you ALL to know that when I post a Q on this forum I NEVER "thumb down" any responder. All are entitled to their opinions. I may not "thumb up" everyone; I just NEVER "thumb down" anyone. I want to make this point very clear.

Have a good day all!

Will

Thanks Gerry, wonderful question (stars to you).

I remember the quote from Frederick the Great made famous by George S. Patton...

"L'audace, L'audace, toujour l'audace."

In a word, that sums it up -- "Audacity."

When Sir Francis Drake burned the Spanish ships and supplies at Cadiz, King Philip (who actually admired Elizabeth I greatly) spoke of her in the context and said, "What daring, what audacity -- what a remarkable woman."

The British novelist, James Clavell (Shogun, King Rat, etc) said the native quality of the English is simply to burst to the head of the line as though we have a right to it.

In the words of John Adams... "And thus are kingdoms obtained."

The British character is based on pluck, determination and sheer bald-faced cheek. In a word, AUDACITY. And that audacity has always been greatest when the stakes were highest. Think of Agincourt. Think of the Armada of 1588, and think of Dunkirk.

Crisis + Audacity = GREATNESS.

Cheers.

Manchester fellow

The British Bulldog spirit has always been there - it always will be. Call it delusion, call it what ever you like. But you can sum up the British people's attitude in one sentence -

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat".

That is what led Churchill to make his famous speech after Dunkirk which epitomised the British people's will at a time when defeat and invasion looked inevitable -

"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER"

Mod

The Dunkirk spirit was the style in which the British people could unify themselves as a Nation against incredible adverse actions directed towards them. Presently, the continuation of this â€œDunkirk spiritâ€ still exists; but it appears as a more reluctant and tame attitude. It seems that since the time of Dunkirk, theyâ€™ve had to deal with partial wars, that were backed by or supporting the USA. Nothing like, Dunkirk, etalâ€¦ Then add the issues presented on the domestic front with no support for the current two wars, bad service, dodgy MPs, an influx of unaccountable immigrants, and extremists, which at times, it appears their actions, and words seem to have unrestricted control over the good people living there. Periodically, throughout the decades after Dunkirk, the British people chose to just go about their day and unifiable in not speaking out against the adverse issues within their Nation. Recently, it appears that they are addressing such issues as a large group of citizens. The Brits should be proud of what theyâ€™ve managed to do at Dunkirk and proud of the noteworthy spirit they managed together in order to achieve such a feat, then, and throughout their remarkable history. Hopefully, in present day, this same fortitude will resurface, and GB will not become too accustomed to losing on the Home front.

Oh, PE2008, they would not have landed in Concentration Camps, the Yanks would have prevented that from happening. Actually, we did assist in many ways. One, because of believing in the same cause (obviously) and two, years before the "Special Relationship" phrase was coined, GB is our mother land or parent, and you don't let family fail.

Ms. Intrigued

I just wanted to add that when I read answers like Wills, Manchester Fellow and your Q Gerry, it makes me feel very proud to be British!

I've followed Dunkirk Ships journey for the 70th anniversary on the news over here and find it such a lovely event to commemorate Dunkirk and the fact that people are able to follow in their father's footsteps, amazing!

Paul

The answer is in the question. It is because we are an Island Nation and have always had to protect ourselves from Invasion.

PE2008

Self--delusion.

This is the great British characteristic which allowed the British to claim a "victory" out of the Dunkirk disaster.

This was also in evidence during the many industrial strikes that hampered British war materials production during WW2. Trade Unionist leaders thinking they could press their wage demands through blackmail when national defeat would have sent them all to concentration camps.

ADDED
"The Brits should be proud of what theyâ€™ve managed to do at Dunkirk"

I'm curious to know what that was. It's a matter of historical record that Hitler allowed the Brits to flee (minus their equipment). "26 Feb/1945 Hitler lamented that Churchill was "quite unable to appreciate the sporting spirit" in which he had refrained from annihilating the BEF at Dunkirk"

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