There is no other city in France that has the same associations in time
of conflict that the British have with Arras. Since the campaigns of
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in the early 18th century,
British soldiers have fought in and around Arras, occasionally as an
enemy but, more often, as defenders of French and Allied democracy.
Battlefield visitors to the area will immediately recognize the names of
towns and villages that were as significant to the men of Marlborough's
army as they were to those who fought in the First and Second World
Wars.
This book serves both as guide to the Second World War battlefields that
surround the city and its environs as well as detailing the actions of
the British armored attack of 21 May 1940. The book looks at the
strategic situation that led up to the famous Arras counterstroke and,
using material that has not been published before, examines the British
and German actions between 20 and 23 May. The only Victoria Cross action
that took place during this time is looked at in detail; as is the
fighting that took place in Arras and during the breakout.
Despite its shortcomings, the counterstroke achieved the essential
element of surprise and caused widespread alarm amongst the German
command and hit Rommel's 7th Panzer Division at precisely the moment
when his armored units were ahead of the infantry and gunners. The
British infantry fought well and both the Durham battalions were
fortunate that their commanding officers and senior NCOs were men who
had already fought in one conflict and possessed the determination to
rally their less experienced junior ranks and fight on regardless. Such
was the case with the two tank battalions, although sadly they lost both
their commanding officers and over half the tanks that went into the
engagement. The attack did enable the British to tighten their hold on
Arras - albeit temporarily - and, as is often cited, built doubts in the
minds of German High Command as to the speed of their advance and
contributed to the subsequent Hitler halt order of 24-27 May.
The author has gone to some lengths to track down accounts from those
individuals who served in the area during May 1940 and fought the
enveloping tide of the German advance
The book is supported by three car tours, one of which takes the visitor
along the tragic path taken by the Tyneside Scottish on 20 May and two
walking routes, which concentrate on Arras.
137 black and white photographs (integrated) and a number of maps
derived from regimental histories; and six tour maps provide the
battlefield visitor with illustrations of the battlefields as they were
in 1940 and as they are today.
