PrintJuly 26, 2008
Iran and the Lessons of Dunkirk
In early May 1940, less than a year after the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe, Germany turned its attention to Western Europe with a vengeance. German armed forces -- utilizing their newly-perfected Blitzkrieg tactics of tank attacks coordinated with tactical air support -- smashed through the "Low Countries" of Holland and Belgium, and completed an end-run into the heart of France around its defensive Maginot Line. The heavily-fortified Line had been constructed after World War I and was supposed to keep France safe from any future German attack. However, the Line failed miserably and the Germans advanced rapidly. Holland and Belgium fell quickly and France -- despite having numerical superiority in both tanks and aircraft over Germany -- offered only token resistance. England deployed their British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of both land and air units to assist with France's defense. The British proved themselves prescient when they sent only second-line...(Read Full Article)
