Dunkirk 1940 photos. Some never seen before .

You really baffled me this time Keith!

'Un Week-end à Zuydcoote' is a French classis and perhaps the best movie about Operation Dynamo ever made! It's a real cinema classic!

The film was inspired on a roman written by the French author Robert Merle, who was liaison officer with the BEF (he was lector English at the Rennes University). I have no idea in which unit he served but it certainly would be interesting to find out. Anyway, Merle eye-witnessed the whole Dunkirk downfall before eventually being captured by the Germans. He published his book in 1949 an won the most illustrious French literary prize (le Prix Goncourt) that same year. Needless to say, in France (an French-speaking Belgium), everyone knows his work.



In 1964, Merle's book was brought to the big screen by the Famous French filmmaker Henri Verneuil.

Don't expect a British-style movie though. It shows the Dunkirk havoc from a French perspective. No bold heroics here, only a lot of fatalism and existentialism (as in some Titanic-movies). It shows Dunkirk for was it really was and how individuals, on the receiving end of things, struggled to survive in this hell. Again, no heroes here, only human beings and their nature - good and... not so good.

Also, I find the overall atmosphere that must have reigned in Dunkirk at the time is very well pictured throughout the film. Remember that, in 1964, there were no digital special effects - actors still had to act! Although he's not my favorite French actor, I must nonetheless admit Jean-Paul Belmondo perfectly embodies the role of the French NCO. In my opinion, this film has much more body and substance than Nolan's 'Dunkirk' which is too commercially articulated to suit the expectations of a Anglo-American public.

Anyway, I suggest you form your own opinion. Anyone interested in watching the entire movie can send me a PM with your e-mail address .
I'm afraid I only have the original version available though, but don't let that stop you.

For my part, I find the German WW2 movies the most poignant (e.g. 'Stalingrad', 'Der Untergang', 'Sophie Scholl', 'Das Boot',...).
It would be interesting to see how they would tackle the subject.

KR,
Christian

 

...all that and Catherine Spaak. I don't need a translation



One of the interesting details of the film, from the point of view of a BEF fanatic is that it shows the British vehicles with blue-painted blackout masking and this detail has been pretty much forgotten, but it complies with BEF standing orders.

Christopher Nolan simply couldn't be arsed with historical accuracy.

 

For those who would be interested: some filming locations
Lieux de tournage du film Week-end à Zuydcoote | Lieuxtournage.fr
Most of the scenes were filmed on location in Bray-Dunes (just next to Zuydcoote).

Tip from a local: if you should be looking for a very decent restaurant while visiting the neighbourhood, I would strongly recommend 'Au Joyeux Retour des Pécheurs', located in the village. Prices are quite reasonable and quality excellent. Since people come all the way from Dunkirk, you'd better make a prior reservation though

 

Aha...! No need to send 811 MB all over: everyone can view the film through this link

 

I saw the German version ‘Dünkirchen, 2. Juni 1940’ on TV ages ago.
Bebel was THE action hero in the cinema at the time and it was a bit strange to see him as a tragic figure

Two German films from the same period as Week-end at Zuydcoote are "Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben" and "Die Brücke". (both 1959)
Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? - Wikipedia
Die Brücke (film) - Wikipedia

Both are IMHO more authentic than the later films: less action, no special effects to speak of, ridiculously simple dummy tanks - but much closer to the spirit of the time and a lot more atmospheric. ("Stalingrad" comes closest to that)

 

Its what is in the background that is interesting me as well, in the film, no AI.

 

Out of interest, Rich, because I truly don’t know, would that car have had the Union Flag (not “Jack”, of course) on the door, or would that have been purely an artistic identifier for the intended audience?

 

I was going to add Die Brücke to Christian’s list too.

 

Many thanks for posting these photos & videos, my dad was one of the 79 Queens Own Cameron Highlanders that were evacuated from Dunkirk , Respect & Thanks

 

See also:

 

French and British armored vehicles found by German troops after the Battle of France and transported by rail in 1940.
https://fb.watch/AJkiBM18NY/

 

French ship L`Adroit and behind the Floride.
Photo from my collection

 

Looks like they are using the good old Scammell Pioneer for recovery winching. They seemed to be very popular with the Germans, I wonder how many they salvaged ? Given our artillery losses we must have left hundreds behind .
The Gardner engine was made under licence in France so engine spares may not have been a problem.
Off topic to a degree but here are some young lads recovering a T34 tank in UK with theirs recently.
Quite slow on the hills !

 

One here 1940. Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

Scammell Pioneer near the French ship L`Adrot. Photo from my collection
Keith

 

Beach malo terminus. Photo from my collection
Keith

 

British Scammell low bed trailer in German service collecting French tanks

 

Royal Engineer-tells-his-story
Pauline Hayton was 52 years old before her father, Norman Wickman, talked about his life in the British Army, and what happened in Dunkirk as he saw it. It was 1999. Wanting to write a family memoir, Pauline pumped Norman for information on his childhood; his wartime stories spilled out instead. She found them so fascinating that she put the memoir to one side and concentrated on capturing his every word. This is his experience at Dunkirk as told to Pauline, supported by her research.
Link to What Happened in Dunkirk: a Royal Engineer Tells His Story

 

Pi-Btl. 29 with captive balloon on the outskirts of Dunkirk
I think I've seen the monument with the bird(?) before

 

Not Dunkirk, but Boulogne-sur-Mer: this is the 'Monument au Capitaine Ferber', located on the boulevard Sainte-Beuve (not far from Nausicaa).



Ferber was a French artillery officer and early aviation pioneer.

The monument (as seen on Olli's photo) was destroyed during the war. The eagle, however, survived and was put in storage.
In 1994, a new monument was erected with the original eagle.





KR,
Christian