the retry the case were dropped the charges released 2015 and then they decided to retry him and finally found not guilty of all counts please give him a big hand. [applause] welcome. . >> the weather former editor in chief with his most recent book it is called all

lumber co. >> i was of a child in the 40's. but moving back and forth. >> what do you remember about the late '40's?. >> i remember very clearly in 1939 in the al break of war and i describe that. i remember on that limited level with the united kingdom.

and those all together. that was the most peas uncomfortable i've ever done in my life what happened in dunkirk?. >> the beginning december 3rd. but dunkirk when the belgians have collapsed when what they find they have to

make their way back in the hope of being evacuated but the iranian ships and debt was extraordinary the smallest borough detachment ago there were over 860 that went over. that is very difficult to do because of the minefields i

think probably it is the moment the plane did greatest victory they have an opportunity on the beaches of dunkirk. command those two days gave the british and opportunity of 350,000 men. we'll be very difficult for the germans to invade england.

it began may 26 and 27. and then coming out of dunkirk now without the equipment for artillery first of all, the naval officers didn't want to have all been. dated one have a bunch of dripping wet soldiers armed with their rifles. [laughter] with those artilleries.

and then they had to the left were they were. >> brigades snatching victory of the jaws of defeat?. >> rand more than that because in that effort. with lord halifax with the prime minister on may 10th

and halifax already open in the discussions. so figuring out what the peace settlement would be. but he recognized first of all, a substantial number of the ruling conservative party's in with the majority of the conservative party as the man who should have remained in their prime minister. except when chamberlain resigned and then was

flabbergasted. >> so they did not have the unanimous backing from the party. and to be obliged of these arguments that it is quicker rather than not. but dunkirk gave him the opportunity within the house of commons not just snatching victory from the

jaws of defeat but that evacuation to do the unexpected end of miraculous. then the british point of view changed as the notion of defeat as say willingness to engage in that is less destructive. it changes because of dunkirk. and as churchill put it is necessary. and don may 1940 when the

germans attack and it is an extraordinary achievement to make that mental switch to make that determination and that includes dunkirk. and this is an almost uncanny admiration with these makeshift votes and they felt their armies had come in once they knew that that that was a very

important factor. so that is the germans gave everybody the hope. >> but of course, it was courageous. the kids and older than 14. one man was 84 years old. with men and women through the minefield that what the navy gave them to the beaches of dunkirk. and as a parent they could

die get close to the beaches so even those goals to get them up to where though larger votes were so the evacuation is perfectly ordinary sailing under bombing pearl so more than that. is a bad is the factor most responsible when it was

becoming apparent with these days of may 1940 and may be possible as churchill put it in with those negotiations but then he said without stepping on the slippery slope. to read and put 1 foot further. >> how did the british army end up in dunkirk?. >> but with of belgians and

and then the french into retreat from belgium. but at the same time for the resourceful planning to sweep those german forces up to the coast so what on earth would be the purpose and that was designed to the

channel coast and then to take one by one of the beach in dunkirk in natick every another channel there was only one channel port for the provision that was done curve. and the beecher is why the. but the tides are e enormous as the tide goes down but that was the only one left.

>> but from dunkirk to dover in fact, nobody to do that. either going south from the minefield to those who we're going north with a 73 nautical miles. and then to go across the channel.

but that is a considerable with germany votes so that was not a short trip. and then to make that directly across. >> get these from the american perspective dunkirk was under reported?. >>. >> and that it is absolutely

wonderful. and i suspect the why did i do? but then it takes four years. but then she said write a book about dunkirk. so i said that is not a bad idea. i became more and more interested because nobody

deal with step-by-step the way we went to war and why we ended up in dunkirk. so it isn't just a of a great story it is of untold story. >> but not that entire story. so with so many different people is just those voices and then they took their chances.

>> after may 10, 1940. >> neville chamberlain retained his place he and church tilbury the animosity. but churchill assisted and take a majority of the conservatives. and chamberlain once war had begun that one of the things i wanted to do in this book

is reinstate some understanding but a strong tough powerful politician. to have immense political skills but he made the mistake that he couldn't negotiate hitler.

and with the reluctance of anybody through the first world war but the other was would not be ready for combat there was no way to tell the british but he knew that he needed time so he bought time not the nice thing but the british and the french have to buy time.

>> the newest book coming out in september thanks for spending a few minutes. >> is good to see you again. >> leading up to world war i with what we're facing right now but germany was the one that convinced them to get into the navy business that was a huge navy build up and what that did was change the game shortly before world

war i to take the solomon islands a way. scipio germany with the base and the south pacific.

>> we've been friends ever since we went to to georgetown prep together, and he's written this the great memoir about his life. >> booktv wants to know what you're reading. send us your summer reading list via twitter @booktv or post it to our facebook page, facebook.com/booktv. booktv on c-span2, television for serious readers. >> next on booktv's "after words," former "wall street journal" writer and editor george malone describes the paper's role in shaping america in his book, "free people, free markets." he's interviewed by rana foroohar, financial times associate editor. >> host: so thanks so much for being here, george. it's a pleasure to be discussing