The last 4,000 British troops left Saint-Nazaire after rumours of a German advance encouraged a hurried departure and the abandonment of much equipment. Dunbar Naismith then heard that 8,000 Polish troops were approaching and sent six destroyers with seven troop transports to collect them. Only 2,000 men appeared, with no German forces in close pursuit. Ground crews burned unserviceable Hurricanes, while a rear party escaped by transport aircraft a few hours before German tanks arrived. The sequence shows how uncertain reports could overassign scarce shipping even while the evacuation faced a real deadline.
Notable Point · 1:04:35-1:05:42
Rumours misdirect shipping at Saint-Nazaire
A report of 8,000 approaching Polish troops sent six destroyers and seven transports to Saint-Nazaire, where only 2,000 men arrived.