Hitler's big boo boo thanks to a chubby man's ego

Reading time: 3 minutes

In the history of World War II, few events were as pivotal as the Battle of Dunkirk. Luckily, Hitler made a wrong decision that cost the Nazis the battle and probably the war.

After Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was sent to France. The goal: to support the French in securing Europe’s Western front against Nazi invasion and, ultimately, protect the future of Western civilisation.

On 10 May 1940, the Nazi forces caught the Allied forces off guard as they thundered through the wooded hills of the Ardennes in Belgium to attack the Low Countries and France. The German Blitzkrieg, comprising fast-moving tanks supported by the airforce, crushed the resistance forces.

Within days, the BEF and a portion of the French army were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, surrounded by German forces. Like sardines packed on the beach, around 400,000 Allied troops faced annihilation or capture.

“So, you are telling me that we are totally screwed?”

But as they were on the verge of crushing the encircled Allied forces, Hitler gave an order that left his rampaging Nazi ground forces flabbergasted—halt.

The Allied soldiers couldn’t believe their luck. Why on earth would Hitler let slip through his fingers this slamdunk opportunity to win the war that had barely begun?

To answer this question, look no further than Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force)—a man whose influence and power in Nazi Germany were second only to Hitler's.

Göring was a unique character. He was addicted to morphine and loved luxury and self-aggrandisement. Göring wore extravagant, custom-made uniforms to distinguish himself from other high-ranking Nazis. He liked silk shirts and yellow furlined suede jackets. Resembling a 70s disco ball, he carried a jewel-encrusted baton, and his outfits sparkled with medals and flashy jewellery. He had lion cubs as pets at various residences and a massive private art collection of works looted from European museums and Jewish families.

Göring, the flamboyant face of evil.

With an ego big enough to be seen from space, Göring couldn’t let the ground forces steal the limelight for the impending triumph over the beleaguered Allies. Under his command, the Luftwaffe had to deliver the final blow. The aerial conquest would cement his legacy.

Thus, like a personally motivated devil advising another devil, Göring convinced the Führer to leave the job of dealing with the sitting ducks on the beaches of Dunkirk to him and the Luftwaffe.

“My Führer, I have an idea”

But blinded by his hubris, Göring’s mission flopped spectacularly. The halt order had given the Allies crucial time to reorganise and devise an evacuation plan. Poor weather, cloud cover, and surprisingly vigorous resistance from the British Royal Air Force complicated the Luftwaffe’s task much more than expected.

Dubbed the "Miracle of Dunkirk", the Allies pulled off the largest coastal evacuation in history. A flotilla of ships, from mighty destroyers to humble fishing boats, ferried over 340,000 soldiers to safety across the English Channel to British shores.

In the end, Göring's vanity and Hitler's misplaced trust had gifted the Allies a reprieve, a chance to regroup and fight another day. The war that could have ended in the sands of Dunkirk would drag on for five more bloody years and conclude with the downfall of Hitler and the Nazis.

Had it not been for Göring whispering in Hitler’s ear, the world today could have been an unrecognisable place.

The moral of the story:

Be careful of the company you keep because it significantly impacts your decision-making.

And, don’t take advice from chubby opioid-addicted egomaniacs.

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Rob’s recommendations of the week:

• 📧 Newsletter: Passive Aggressive Work Emails With My Toddler About Dinner by

  The Grudge Report
  - A silly, funny and original email correspondence between a toddler and a parent. I also enjoyed People Who Numb My Vibe by
  Factorial Zero
  . I always love a good old rant.

• 🎧 Podcast: Urban Warfare 2.0: A Conversation with John Spencer - Sam Harris speaks with John Spencer about the reality of urban warfare and Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza. John Spencer is a military expert who specialises in military operations in dense urban areas and underground warfare.

• 📚 Book: How to Get Paid for What You Know: Turning Your Knowledge, Passion, and Experience into an Online Income Stream in Your Spare Time by Graham Cochrane. The title says it all. If this topic interests you, the book is easy to read and filled with practical tips.