Mastermind of Dunkirk and D-Day: The Vision of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay
Part of Normandy Week on WW2TV
With Brian Izzard
Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay is perhaps best known for masterminding the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940. Initially, it was thought that 40,000 troops at most could be rescued. But Ramsay’s planning and determination led to some 338,000 being brought back to fight another day, although the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy paid a high price in ships and men. But Ramsay continued to play a crucial role in the conduct of the Second World War – the invasion of Sicily in 1943 was successful in large part due to his vision, and he had a key role in the planning and execution of the D-Day invasion – coordinating and commanding the 7,000 ships that delivered the invasion force onto the beaches of Normandy.
In today’s show Brian Izzard’s puts Ramsay and his work back centre-stage, arguing that Ramsay was the mastermind without whom the outcome of both Dunkirk and D-Day – and perhaps the entire war – could have been very different.
Mastermind of Dunkirk and D-Day: The Vision of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay by Brian Izzard
UK https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/9781612008387
USA https://bookshop.org/a/21029/9781612008387
Brian Izzard was a Fleet Street journalist, feature writer and news subeditor for many years, working latterly on the Daily Express and the Sunday Express. This is his third book, previous titles being Gamp VC: The Wartime Story of Maverick Submarine Commander Anthony Miers (2009) and Sabotage: The Mafia, Mao and the Death of the Queen Elizabeth (2012).
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Cracking show!
Great Presentation! Is it possible there will be a show on Field Marshal Montgomery? Especially his ww1 experiences. Great Channel. Looking forward to more videos.
Another fabulous show today, Paul
A great show on a key contributor to the D-Day planning who is often overlooked. Ramsey had the most amazing SWW career that deserves a full bio like Brian Izzard has produced. A stickler for dress and deportment and reluctant thrower of the odd party, he is a fascinating subject. Like, subscribe and support WW2TV on Patreon or YouTube to keep outstanding content like this coming!
Great show
Oh will you get that guy to stop coughing every two minutes it's very distracting 😑
As an American when it comes to World War II Naval Commanders we know Nimitz, Halsey maybe King or Spruance, but British not a clue. Todays presentation by Brian Izzard of Admiral Bertram Ramsay was a great look at probably the most important British Naval Commander of World War II and apparently the least documented. If it weren't for Ramsay there may not have been a British Army to carry on the fight and eventual defeat of the Nazis. He and his staff guided every major amphibious operation in the ETO until his untimely death in a plane crash in Jan 1945. So do yourself a favor and watch this very interesting story. Thank you Paul and Brian
Another book I need to buy 🙂
Brian's well considered work on Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay is long overdue. I have always been an admirer of this archetypical type of British naval officer; the kind of officers who go about their business without a great amount of aplomb or notoriety. The "Nelson" types are important in their own right, but it is men such as Sir Bertram who get results and take little credit for their accomplishments. He reminds me of the fictional naval character Richard Bolitho of the Alexander Kent novels; a bit prickly for his superiors to appreciate, but an officer of integrity, honor and courage who will take on difficult missions and win. I have studied the plans for Operation Neptune and was astounded at the amount of thought and detail he and his staff brought to the table. Marvelous show!!
There's Hopefully a new Biography on Ramsey in 2024
Excellent interview, as always. 👏👏👏👏👏
I will have to get the book because I still have some outstanding questions. To me the key decision was to avoid invading a port city but to essentially bring their own ports. The coordination of establishing beachheads and almost simultaneously building temporary ports for the follow on reinforcements and resupply was extraordinarily complex. The logistics following the invasion are key. It’s interesting that repair of the Mulberry Harbours was well planned for and executed.
The constant throat clearing on every other sentence is so irritating.
Awesome channel. I wonder out loud. If these people who are pampered on the comments… worried about the production…. could put themselves in the position of the men who actually had to undertake these things that afford us our freedom. They only see the branches in front of their own faces. Keep up the good work my friend 👍
Its good that Brian has taken the time to research Admiral Ramsay, since the Admiral doesn't get much coverage elsewhere. Very interesting stuff Woody @WW2TV
Ramsey found Eisenhower was lacking in "effenciancy"??
Wtf??
His effenciancy was legendary, for crying out loud.
Admiral Ramsey was a man at the right place at the right time but if the Belgian army did not a delaying action at the battle of the Leie and covered the retreating BEF and holding the German 18th army under von Keuchler with 12 divisions from 24 to 28th may then the evacuation of Dunkirk could have failed…the Germans lost 2000 death and wounded at the battle of the Leie and massacred 80 civilans at the village of Vinkt from pure frustration…
Very informative, brilliant presentation by someone who very obviously knows his subject extremely well. As for the whingers and moaners, get a life.
Phenomenal presentation. Mr. Izzard's contributions to history and our knowledge, and more specifically about Admiral Ramsay, are monumental and greatly appreciated.
Ramsay was one of the unsung heroes a real brilliant officer.He led the team of allied officers that planned & organized the channel crossing and amphibious landings.Along with officers from the Pacific that had been doing it whole sale in the Island hoping campain. He should have been the 1st Sea lord coming out of retirement in '38 at the prodding of Churchill. Read his memoirs The Year of D-Day printed postumously ,damn shame he died in a Jan '45 plane crash
Sir Bertram Ramsay was chief of the U.K Navy in WW2 sinking Vichy French, Italian and German ships . His death at the very end of the war may of been a revenge Assassination under the guise of a air takeoff accident. Fowl play of the mechanical apparatus via a infiltraited ground crew may of happened. The English were preparing for an invasion in 1940 the Vichy French/German also were preparing for one in 1944/45.