Historical Crisis Committee

World War II – Starting at Dunkirk: The Evacuation and the Turning Tides of 1940 

It's late May 1940 and things have gone really bad, really fast for the Allies. The Germans smashed through Belgium and northern France with their blitzkrieg tanks, planes, fast-moving troops and suddenly they’ve got almost the entire British army plus a bunch of French and Belgian soldiers trapped against the sea at Dunkirk. Half a million guys facing capture or worse.

Churchill and the brass basically say, “We’ve got to get them out or the war is over before it really starts.” So they launched Operation Dynamo sounds fancy but it was chaos. The Royal Navy does the heavy lifting, but the real miracle happens because hundreds of random British civilians grab whatever boats they own fishing trawlers, yachts, pleasure cruisers, even little wooden things and sail across the Channel under bombs and machine-gun fire to pick up soldiers off the beaches.

Between May 26 and June 4 they managed to rescue over 338,000 men. They leave behind almost all the tanks, guns and trucks, but they save the army itself. Britain gets to fight another day. People still call it the “Miracle of Dunkirk”; the total disaster turned into something that kept hope alive. France falls a few weeks later, but Britain doesn’t quit. That’s where the real story of the war in the West really begins. 

So can the “Miracle of Dunkirk” really happen? All in your hands to shape the future. Axis has the advantage!

Nature of the Committee:

The Historical Crisis Committee operates at a significantly faster pace than the committees that most delegates are used to. The hours spent in committee sessions may simulate progression across a timeframe ranging from days to years. Delegates must be prepared to respond to rapidly unfolding developments rather than debate static resolutions.

Key Procedural Differences:

There are no draft resolutions, instead, delegates will write:

Directives, a short actionable document (1-5 clauses) passed by a simple majority. Upon passage, directives are implemented immediately, and delegates respond swiftly to their consequences. 

Directives must include: a clear title, specific action steps, and the desired outcome for evaluation.

Directives must define who, what, where, when, and how. Make sure to be specific, detail numbers, locations, and methods e.g. military troop movements.

Ensure directives align with historical character and capacity of the state or figure being represented. The Chairs reserve the right to deny or amend any directive that is unrealistic, infeasible, or inconsistent with historical plausibility.

Crisis Notes, private written instructions submitted by delegates to Chairs to pursue portfolio-specific objectives, allowing delegates to act independently of the cabinet.

Crisis Notes must clearly state the intended action, rationale, and methodology by which it will be executed. While extensive narrative detail is not required, delegates must specify exact numbers, locations, and resources if allocating funds, deploying troops, initiating intelligence operations, or conducting covert actions.

 Crisis Notes may be an action directed by one delegate, delegation, or joint and signed by members of the same or across delegations; delegates within the same delegation are not required to share identifiable goals and are rather encouraged to maintain portfolio accuracy in accordance with the historical figure they represent. Political maneuvering, secret negotiations, and strategic betrayal are permissible within limits of realism.

The success or failure of a Crisis Note will be determined by feasibility, timing, available resources, and evolving crisis circumstances. 

The Historical Crisis Committee places delegates at the center of a defining moment in history. Unlike traditional committees that focus on policy discussions and resolution writing, this format simulates real time decision making during periods of political instability, war, or revolution.

Delegates assume the roles of historical figures rather than modern state representatives – a monarch, minister, general, revolutionary. Each portfolio carries individual authority, constraints, alliances, and objectives shaped by the political realities of the era. Accuracy in portraying these roles is essential. Actions, rhetoric, and policy choices should reflect the historical character being represented.

This means that delegates are expected to embody the behaviour of their assigned figures, a revolutionary leader should not act as a neutral mediator; a wartime dictator should not behave as a passive diplomat. Decisions may change the course of events but must remain consistent with the character of the historical figure.

Each delegate shall (or try) dress according to their country’s military uniform or to their personal representative.

Placards will identify delegates by their specific roles rather than country alone and rank protocol will be strictly observed. Delegates must address one another by proper titles and names throughout the simulation.

Delegations with multiple representatives will be provided opportunities for structured private discussions, especially regarding military planning and invasion strategy for a maximum amount of time for 10 minutes each time (1 private meeting per 1 committee session).

Information flow within the committee will reflect historical reality; conflicts, alliances, or internal political shifts will not necessarily be announced immediately. A structured time delay may apply before such developments become public knowledge. However, no agreements, crisis directives, or secret arrangements may be withheld from the dais. All backroom negotiations and crisis notes require authorisation and oversight from the dais.

UK:

Winston Churchill - prime minister

Neville Chamberlain - Lord President

Hugh Dowding - Chief of RAF Fighter Command

Anthony Eden - Secretary of State for War

France:

Paul Reynaud - Prime Minister

Maxime Weygand - Commander in Chief

Phillipe Petain - Deputy Prime Minister

Nazi Germany:

Adolf Hitler - fuhrer

Hermann Goring - Luftwaffe

Gerd von Rundstedt - Army High Command

Italy:

Benito Mussolini - Il Duce

Pietro Badoglio - Military leadership

US:

Franklin Roosevelt - President

Cordell Hull - Secretary of State

Soviet Union:

Joseph Stalin - General Secretary

Vyacheslav Molotov - Foreign Minister

Belgium:

Leopold III - King

Hubert Pierlot - Prime Minister

Netherlands:

Wilhelmina of the Netherlands - Queen of Government in exile

Poland:

Wladyslaw Sikorski - Prime Minister of Government in exile

What immediate military priorities must be established in response to Germany’s rapid invasion of Western Europe?

To what extent should national survival take precedence over Allied commitments?

Should diplomatic negotiations be pursued, or does the invasion constitute an unforgivable justification for total war?

What strategies must states adopt in the event of either the failure or success of the Dunkirk evacuation?

How should states balance military objectives with political stability and domestic morale during such a crisis?

This is a historical crisis committee set right in the teeth of the Dunkirk pocket late May into early June 1940. You’re not re-fighting the whole Battle of France, you’re living the decisions of that exact window when everything hung on a thread.

   The history we know had a miracle evacuation, Churchill winning the cabinet debates to fight on, and Britain holding out. But here, your crisis notes, directives, backroom deals, and bold  moves can flip the script. 

   This is one of those hinge moments in history—where a few phone calls, a stubborn speech, a bad weather day, or one lunatic order changed everything. You’re stepping into the shoes of people who felt the weight of empires collapsing. Be bold, be sneaky, be ruthless if you’re Axis, be inspiring if Allied. Write killer directives. Make backroom alliances. Turn disaster into a miracle that never happened.

   The panzers are 10 miles away. The little ships are just starting to leave English ports. The War Cabinet is about to meet. What will you do! 

   If you face a challenge or get confused please don’t hesitate to reach out to your chairs we will be there in no time! Thank you for choosing HCC. We promise you, this will be the best MUN experience!

   Good luck and see you in committee. 

— Chairs