what do all the arrows on the map on this page represent?

Question

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/dunkirk.htmi know that the one going from germany to france is like the german army attack, and then there's one going from where the germans came up to dunkirk which is the british escaping, but then there are two other arrows going deeper into france, what do those stand for?

Answer 1

The arrows show the German advance into different areas of France.

Answer 2

Armies don;t just move randomly, they are manoeuvring to put their enemy at a disadvantage. Imagine or watch two cats in a yard and you will get the idea.



In 1940 the Allies put most of their forces in Northern France, expecting an attack through Belgium. The Germans attacked further south, the arrow marked 'German advance'. Thus, they side-stepped the main allied armies. They then got behind them and headed north. This is the upward pointing arrow.



This cut the allied army off from central France, their supplies and reinforcements. Without fighting, they were compelled to retreat. The German plan had a further advantage- the French lines of communication went back to Paris, but the British had to fall back on the Channel coast to ensure they could retreat to England. Thus, the first phase of the battle ended with the British and some French units escaping at Dunkirk... but still there was the main French army, defending Paris, to deal with. The German army turned itself, gathered itself together, and then moved south, the two downward pointing arrows.



The French army was unable to hold and the French government was forced to make peace.



On such a small scale map, the arrows do not depict events all that clearly. Also bear in mind as the German army advanced, it 'strung out' behind marching infantry, so the advances were sort of like throwing a net. None of the arrows depict British army movements, and without some visual guide to where the allied armies were- the map in the link below, especially the third map, give a better idea of what happened.

Answer 3

German army advanced into France sending a portion of their troops to Dunkirk, and some to Paris (Hilter's treasure).



Germans halted their advance on Dunkirk and either set up positions or continued west along the English Channel. It's not clearly stated by the website, but the map shows they continued west. German troops most likely moved further west after the rescue of the British/French army, not before.



The website makes it sound as if Germany was planning on ambushing the British navy when they attempted to evac the troops. That is the only reason I could possibly think of for not capturing them.

Answer 4

All of the arrows indicate the movement of the German advance. Where they go in multiple directions would indicate that the army would split off and go in two or more directions. Some of the German army were chasing the British and he allies to Dunkirk and some went south to take control of the rest of France.

Answer 5

The French had called upon Gort (British) to move his troops south to JOIN THEM in a defensive stand.

As you see, one arrow goes straight to Paris, of course.

And a flanking unit goes North West.

That was the French Army going to protect Paris and another large unit towards the coast for re-enforcements.



That was a pretty incredible article, especially about "The little ships of Dunkirk", that came across the English Channel.

Absolutely amazing.

They say the smallest boat which was the 15-foot fishing boat, the Tamzine, is now in the Imperial War Museum.

God love her.

Answer 6

They all show the German advance into the different areas of France; one towards Paris, and one towards western France.