What do you think?
Rate this book
Churchill's Sacrifice Of The Highland Division: France 1940
More than a week after the last British troops had been evacuated from Dunkirk, the 51st (Highland) Division was forced to surrender to German forces at St.Valéry-en-Caux. More than 10,000 men were driven into five years of captivity in prison camps. The author traces the story of the Highland Division, from its arrival in France to its final desperate stand.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Saul David
55 books175 followersSAUL DAVID was born in Monmouth in 1966 and educated at Ampleforth College and Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities (History MA and PhD).
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2016
Saul David has written a fine book about one of Britain's most storied army divisions, which fought bravely in France and, for its pains, was needlessly sacrificed for the sake of Anglo-French unity. A unity that, by the second week of June 1940, was already tissue-thin (the French would sign an armistice with Germany on June 22nd) and had lost almost all meaning following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (along with some French units) from Dunkirk.
In reading this book, one comes to see that the Highland Division's fate was not inevitable. It could have been evacuated from either Dieppe or Le Havre had it been given permission to do so, while there was still room for manoeuver. But the French command, under which the Highland Division had been placed, kept it tied to its own unrealistic plans for defense. So, when General Fortune, the de facto commander of the Highland Division, tried to effect an evacuation, it was too late. He surrendered his forces to a then obscure German general --- Erwin Rommel --- who would later make a name for himself in North Africa and subsequently, be forced to take suicide rather than have his family persecuted by the government he had once served so faithfully until its baseness and criminality compelled him to join a conspiracy to remove Hitler from power (and save Germany).
In reading this book, one comes to see that the Highland Division's fate was not inevitable. It could have been evacuated from either Dieppe or Le Havre had it been given permission to do so, while there was still room for manoeuver. But the French command, under which the Highland Division had been placed, kept it tied to its own unrealistic plans for defense. So, when General Fortune, the de facto commander of the Highland Division, tried to effect an evacuation, it was too late. He surrendered his forces to a then obscure German general --- Erwin Rommel --- who would later make a name for himself in North Africa and subsequently, be forced to take suicide rather than have his family persecuted by the government he had once served so faithfully until its baseness and criminality compelled him to join a conspiracy to remove Hitler from power (and save Germany).
December 20, 2018
The title of Saul David‘s “Churchill’s Sacrifice of the Highland Division” is possibly erroneous, the book doesn’t come out for what happened to the 51st Highland Division in June 1940 as being a political gesture of allied solidarity on the part of Churchill.
It is certainly the fullest account of the 1940 campaign of the 51st Highland Division, expanding hugely on Eric Linklater‘s HMSO publication in 1942 (which perforce had to be limited for security reasons). The Highland Division was in the Maginot Line attached to the French Army when the German assault started on 10th May 1940 and so wasn’t with the rest of the BEF.
By the time the ferocity and direction of the German plan was understood by the French & British High Commands most of the German Army was between the 51st Highland Division and the BEF; so there was no real decision to sacrifice them on the part of Churchill. Saul David makes this readily understandable in his narrative, although he does highlight some of the points where a clear directive to withdraw them could have made a difference. However these would have to have been ordered by French Generals as the Division was part of the French IX Corps and under their command.
What is remarkable is that the Division only surrendered when surrounded and out of ammunition nearly a fortnight after the Dunkirk evacuations were complete.
It is certainly the fullest account of the 1940 campaign of the 51st Highland Division, expanding hugely on Eric Linklater‘s HMSO publication in 1942 (which perforce had to be limited for security reasons). The Highland Division was in the Maginot Line attached to the French Army when the German assault started on 10th May 1940 and so wasn’t with the rest of the BEF.
By the time the ferocity and direction of the German plan was understood by the French & British High Commands most of the German Army was between the 51st Highland Division and the BEF; so there was no real decision to sacrifice them on the part of Churchill. Saul David makes this readily understandable in his narrative, although he does highlight some of the points where a clear directive to withdraw them could have made a difference. However these would have to have been ordered by French Generals as the Division was part of the French IX Corps and under their command.
What is remarkable is that the Division only surrendered when surrounded and out of ammunition nearly a fortnight after the Dunkirk evacuations were complete.
September 1, 2017
A definite assessment of a colossal screw up
Although the collapse of the French military was certain, the many bad political and military decisions certainly cost many lives and imprisonment
Although the collapse of the French military was certain, the many bad political and military decisions certainly cost many lives and imprisonment
September 8, 2017
Maps??
Many misspellings and poor grammar. Hard to follow the storylines as never really sure where it was taking place. Would be better with frequent maps showing location of both sides.
Many misspellings and poor grammar. Hard to follow the storylines as never really sure where it was taking place. Would be better with frequent maps showing location of both sides.
October 6, 2017
A good early war read.
What a story especially contrasted against the withdrawal from Dunkirk which happened earlier. The book desperately needed maps to make sense of what was going on and closer attention to the editing towards the end.
What a story especially contrasted against the withdrawal from Dunkirk which happened earlier. The book desperately needed maps to make sense of what was going on and closer attention to the editing towards the end.
September 6, 2011
Absolutely brilliant book. My ancestors, neighbours and relatives of my school-friends were all elligible to enlist in the territorial regiments that were called up and rushed to France in 1940. It was a disaster for all highland Scottish towns and villages, with so many young men captured. David correctly identifies the underlying political forces and blames the commander-in-chief for his poor judgement.
August 10, 2015
Interesting, but dry.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews