The Miracle of Dunkirk

By Dr. Bryan Gentry

In the late 1920’s the great depression hit, creating economic chaos and causing panic and fear throughout much of the world. Millions lost their jobs, many lost their farms, numerous small businesses closed and multitudes were at the brink of being destitute. During this time in Germany, the National Socialist Party was gaining momentum and its leader was a man named Adolph Hitler. Hitler was a smooth talker who lied to the people and told them what they wanted to hear. He used his charisma and political savvy to gain their trust. The promises he made to the people of Germany sounded so much better than their present situation. They began to believe that he could perform these miracles.

Underneath his shiny, polished facade was a corrupt monster filled with hatred and greed. His policies were racially motivated, founded on his belief in evolution and survival of the fittest. He believed that certain races were sub-human, which is why he focused on genocide in huge numbers. The treaties between the Japanese, Germans and Italians during 1936-37 created the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis.

The German military machine began its aggression by invading Austria in March of 1938, stating that it was a German matter. The British and French were caught off guard and accepted this explanation. The United States had passed a bill stating that it would remain neutral in the war, refusing to aid all foreign parties in the conflict. After conquering Austria, Hitler followed up quickly by occupying Czechoslovakia and Poland. Then on May 20, 1940 the Germans took Abbeville, France at the mouth of the Somme River. They began pushing along the coast northward and within six days they had almost 340,000 British and French soldiers trapped at a narrow beach near Dunkirk, France, a place just across the English Channel from Britain.

It seemed like there was no way out. These soldiers represented the majority of the British and French forces and if these soldiers were captured, the resistance in Europe would be reduced drastically. When the people of Britain found out the situation their troops were in, the citizens were called on to pray, to beg God to help them. Then God smiled on the soon to be American Allies.

Contrary to the weather forecasts, for three days there were low hanging clouds that prevented the German planes from flying. They tried but were unable to hold their own against the German fighting machine. You see, as the Germans conquered each nation, they forced the men of that country to join the army, so with each invasion the Germans would become much stronger.

Once the Allied forces were backed up to the English Channel, the French troops were finally able to hold off the German advance. Then the British people came to the rescue. During those three days it seemed like everyone who owned a boat, no matter how small, started crossing the Channel to Dunkirk where the soldiers were and began ferrying them to safety in England. It must have been a curious sight, fishing boats, yachts, garbage scows and just about anything that would float made trip after trip across the Channel to save the British army. They were crossing the English Channel day and night for those three days, twenty-four hours a day, rescuing the British army. They were not only able to save the British army from being destroyed, but also saved many of the French soldiers, as well.

God had certainly answered the prayers of the British people in a mighty way. The overcast skies did not clear until the soldiers were safe and these soldiers became a part of the force that would eventually bring down Hitler and his wicked Nazi regime. I can only imagine the surprise on the faces of the Germans when they got to the beach there at Dunkirk and found no soldiers.

How many of the Nazi troops really saw the overcast skies as a sign that God was helping the Allies and against them, we may never know. However, I believe this incident solidified the resolve of the British and caused the people to see that God answers prayers, which caused them to pray even more. The overcast skies that helped keep the German planes on the ground those three days was in reality the “finger of God” answering the prayers of His people. Just like Pharaoh’s magicians in Exodus 8:19, there was no mistaking whose side the Creator was on. America needs the people of God to pray that God will protect her from the evils that are destroying her from within. Christians, no matter what it looks like, God still answers prayers, so don’t stop praying!