Dunkirk Timeline Explained
In early 1940, World War II was raging across Europe. Nazi Germany launched a surprise attack on May 10, invading the Netherlands, Belgium, and France using fast-moving tanks and planes in a tactic called blitzkrieg.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-France-World-War-II/The-fall-of-France-June-5-25-1940 The British Expeditionary Force, or BEF, along with French and other Allied troops, got trapped near the French port of Dunkirk as German forces closed in from all sides.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirk
By May 23, German panzer tanks had reached the canal line near Dunkirk, putting the BEF in serious danger.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirk On May 24, Adolf Hitler gave an order to halt the tanks, pulling them back instead of pushing forward. This unexpected stop gave the Allies a key chance to escape.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirk
On May 26, Operation Dynamo began. This was the official name for the massive rescue effort led by Admiral Bertram Ramsay from Dover, England.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940 Captain William Tennant became the beachmaster at Dunkirk. He found the port wrecked by German air raids, so troops had to board ships straight from the beaches or nearby breakwaters. It was slow work because small boats had to ferry men out to bigger naval ships.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirkhttps://destinationwwii.com/wwii-things-to-do-in-dunkirk-france/
To help, Winston Churchill, Britain’s new prime minister, called for civilian boats like fishing vessels and yachts, known as the little ships. These joined the Royal Navy to speed up the rescue.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPFs7ScX14https://destinationwwii.com/wwii-things-to-do-in-dunkirk-france/ Favorable weather aided the effort. Light winds carried smoke over the beaches to hide the troops, and thick clouds from May 28 to 30 blocked German Luftwaffe bombers. British fighter planes fought above the clouds to protect the ships below.https://lastdaysdecoded.com/protected-by-weather/
The evacuation lasted until June 4. On June 2 at 10:50 pm, Tennant sent a message that the BEF was safely out. General Harold Alexander checked the beaches one last time to make sure no one was left behind.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940 In total, about 198,000 British troops and 140,000 French and other Allies, or roughly 338,000 men, reached England. They left behind most of their tanks, guns, and supplies.https://www.britannica.com/event/Dunkirk-evacuation/The-miracle-of-Dunkirkhttps://lastdaysdecoded.com/protected-by-weather/
After Dunkirk, the war continued. On June 5, Germany attacked the French Weygand Line, leading to the fall of Paris on June 14. France surrendered on June 22.https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-France-World-War-II/The-fall-of-France-June-5-25-1940 Italy joined the fight against France on June 10.