Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- ONE The Hinge of Fate : The turning point. Two accounts. - The awesomeness of the German tide. - Black Fortnight. - Problems -- TWO Friday, 24 May Hitler's halt order. - The Germans before Dunkirk. - Hitler and the Conservatives. - The two Rights. - Cha -- THREE Saturday, 25 May An English weekend. - The French : Weygand and Petain. - Halifax and the Italian ambassador. - Churchi -- FOUR Sunday, 26 May An agitated day. - Three meetings of the War Cabinet. - Chamberlain, Halifax, Churchill. - Disagreements -- FIVE Monday, 27 May What was happening at Dunkirk. - The Belgians surrender. - American considerations. - Three War Cabinets -- SIX Tuesday, 28 May Morale, opinion, and the press.- "We cannot possibly starve the public in this way." - Foreigners and ref -- SEVEN Survival A long-range view of the war. - The meanng of Dunkirk. - "It is time to face up to facts." - Halifax redux. - -- Bibliography -- Illustration Credits -- Index.