Calais — Nicholson facing the ultimatum
Brigadier , 41, commands at Calais the : the 1st Battalion , the 2nd , the 7th Battalion and the — roughly 3,000 infantry and some 50 Cruiser tanks.
His brigade was first ordered to dash to the rescue of Boulogne, then to escort a supply convoy to the BEF. Orders change hour by hour as the Panzers reach the coast behind him.
Facing Calais is General Schaal's . During the night of 24-25 May, General Ironside, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, reports that the French port commander, General Fagalde, has forbidden any evacuation. On 25 May, Schaal sends in an ultimatum: surrender the town, on pain of destruction.
From London, War Secretary Eden circulates a phrase: "The eyes of the Empire are upon the defence of Calais." Nicholson must answer the German emissary.
Calais, 25 May 1940, you are Brigadier Nicholson: the German ultimatum could spare your 3,000 men — should you accept it?
Nicholson refused the ultimatum and defended Calais house by house. To the emissary he replied on 25 May: "The answer is no, as it is the British Army's duty to fight as well as it is the German's." That same evening, Churchill confirmed: "Evacuation will not take place... every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the BEF." The brigade held the citadel and the seafront until around 16:00 on 26 May, when it was overwhelmed; some 3,000 British troops were taken prisoner. Their resistance pinned the for several days and cost it dearly — roughly a third of its infantry and half its tanks. This effort helped protect the Dunkirk perimeter during the launch of Dynamo. As a prisoner, Nicholson died in captivity at Oflag IX-A/H at Rotenburg on 26 June 1943, aged 44, in circumstances never elucidated. His defence has remained a symbol.
Learn more about this event
Related polls
10
Bulson — Lafontaine and the 02:00 rumour
Monthermé — Portzert in the Meuse loop
Stonne — Billotte facing the Panzer column
Eben-Emael — Jottrand under the explosions
Boulogne — Fox-Pitt and the Guards facing the port
The Defence of Boulogne
Gort at Habarcq — trust in the French plan
Huntziger over the Sedan reports — 13 May
The Weygand Line on the Somme
Tank Alarm at Bulson
Bulson — Lafontaine and the 02:00 rumour
Monthermé — Portzert in the Meuse loop
Stonne — Billotte facing the Panzer column
Eben-Emael — Jottrand under the explosions
Boulogne — Fox-Pitt and the Guards facing the port
The Defence of Boulogne
Gort at Habarcq — trust in the French plan
Huntziger over the Sedan reports — 13 May
The Weygand Line on the Somme
Tank Alarm at Bulson
T03-060