May–June 1940

Dunkirk: 300,000 men rescued from the beaches

Story 3 of 10

In May 1940, during the Second World War and before France had fallen, the German army broke into France and trapped British and French troops at Dunkirk, on the coast of northern France. Britain decided to bring them home in a huge operation by sea. As well as the Navy, many ordinary people offered to sail their own small boats, such as pleasure boats and fishing boats, across the Channel to help. Together they brought more than 300,000 men back from the beaches around Dunkirk.

Many lives were lost and a great deal of equipment was left behind, but the evacuation was still a success, because it meant Britain could carry on fighting Germany. It also gave English a new phrase, "the Dunkirk spirit", which means people sticking together and refusing to give up when times are hard.

Black-and-white photo: soldiers back from Dunkirk sit at the windows of a train while people hand them drinks — Addison Road station, London, 31 May 1940. Soldiers just back from Dunkirk are handed hot tea on the train. Photo: Mr Saidman, War Office official photographer, Imperial War Museums H 1630, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Quiz

Which of the following statements is correct?

Era contents: 1930 – 1950