>> >> i remember them clearly

and having to carry that every where. it i reticulate remember being evacuated in 1940 i think it was the most uncomfortable. >> world war ii began

september 1st, 1939 what happened?. >>. >> i believe it began september 3rd but the basic story is compressed through four days and nights and to find a pass to make its way back in the hopes of being evacuated. because there is very little time to prepare for that what they used to evacuate

over 350,000 and there were over a hundred 60 officers going across the channel and then extraordinary and miraculously but there was the moment in which and they had that opportunity but for

those reasons which have been disputed those two days gave their british and opportunity with the local support area and knows off the beaches it would be very difficult for those germans are invading it began in 1940 may 6th and 7th where it could take 20 or 30,000 men. we took them without their

equipment or their artillery first of all, with the naval officer. [laughter] and they are armed with their rifles and it was hard to get into the school. because the troops had to be left where they were. so that was at the core of the british army.

>> so amassing victory?. >> and it was more that the to because it was still within the war effort who was the of preferred candidate and halifax had already open discussion and he is trying to figure out what his terms would be. but he recognized the first of all, a substantial number

of members of the conservative party but that substantial majority that should never really gave prime minister. but halifax was flabbergasted. because he did not feel he could take of war from the house of lords.

so in that war efforts to anybody that would listen patiently to argue peaking at the french would seek out these terms quicker than not and were already in the habit of doing so. they had the opportunity to put it to when and near buckingham palace. it wasn't just that victory but also ending with one decisive action to make peace with the germans. we had done the unexpected into the correct in this with their british premier.

in the party changed at the notion of defeat the also to engage in some form but it changed because of them into a type of churchill thought that said it was necessary so 19431841 -- through 1941 than it was extraordinary that they've managed to do that and that they could make the switch between defeat and determination

that the english regarded the almost uncanny aberration in joy with a makeshift with damages and everything. slowed to one very important factor in that gave everybody the hope and of

course, it was courageous ordinary people like you and me to be 40 years old and sale of his own sailboat that included thousands of men and women sailing bareboat and through the minefield guided by the maps that were charted and then take the men up the beaches. but the bigger ships were getting close to the beaches so they needed the little ship to go up to the beach and they were filled up the soldiers to get them off than they would roll -- grow and that is what had to be done because the evacuation

was perfectly ordinary english people. but they were under bombing and shelling taking their army up. so the factor most responsible it was becoming apparent that it may be possible to arrange something with the germans. as churchill put it that

negotiations were intriguing and said we are stepping up as well. and of course, he was right had they put 1 foot to further that is where the french was. >> how did the british army? >> first they had shots of their right and when the french went to the south the british army had no options except to retreat but at the same time the immense power and resourceful of the

germans swept those forces up to the coast and they say that without being critical because that was the other purpose to take paris for. so what else what else was at stake besides paris? that was by design through the channel coast cutting off the british army and taking the channel port so why did the british end up that way? because they took every other channel there is only one channel port for the british a very

unsuitable place in many ways. not a place to get into. the beach was wide without any cover. the tides were a danger factor because as the tides go down the beach extends out so you needed the even smaller boat to get up to the beach. every reason why dunkirk should not be the right place but it was the only port left for the british so there was no choice. they had to go there. >> as the crow flies it is the channel from dunkirk to dover is about 30 miles but nobody could do that first of all, because of the

minefield that up by the british involve either going south to dover or to go north and go round which is very dangerous. so that would be a journey of about 73 nautical miles. so they would choose those very dangerous groups and then the other of 50 nautical miles they had all of their artillery the 73 miles was considerable in the rough water of the channel. because it was involving the aircraft and the germans.

it was not a short trip for girl --. and just to go around. >> how long have you been thinking about writing this book? at least from the american perspective dunkirk is a little under reported. >> but with most of the americans tell me it is absolutely wonderful although i expect that americans have heard a lot about dunkirk did know about it but why? one very basic reason my wife begged me not

to write another biography. because that took four years so asked if i would do a shorter book says she said write a book about dunkirk. so i thought about it and that was not a bad idea. i would be more interested that surely no one has dealt with a step-by-step the way in which we went to war in that chronological order so

it is still the great untold story. so it is taken out of context but not the entire story. >> so there were so clear the those people who went to dunkirk. >> after may 10, 1940 what happened to neville chamberlain?. >> he vacate in search of the war effort but he and churchill buried the animosity and came to trust each other.

churchill insisted that chamberlain remain the head of the conservative party and churchill was quite touched with his loyalty. so chamberlain once the war had begun became a very firm voice to churchill which is surprising but but to reinstate what chamberlain was like but in fact, he was very strong and tough and powerful politician.

and we had immense political skills and was unforgiving so we've made the mistake that he could not negotiate but to be with anybody to the first world war to see that begin but the other was that they knew that the one

fighter if they knew they would not be ready until june 4th. so there was no way to tell them that they would have to wait until 1940 but they then go -- they knew. so that was at the expense. so the british and the french. >> the newest book coming out in september. thanks for spending a few minutes with us of booktv.