Battle of Dunkirk 1940, excerpt from a German war film showing the evacuation of British soldiers with German and British film footage. Film length 0:53. A licence fee of 2 x 30 seconds is charged to purchase a licence for the complete film.
Battle of Dunkirk 1940
Description
Battle of Dunkirk 1940
Historical background to the film footage
The Battle of Dunkirk, which took place in 1940 during the Second World War, was a major military operation in which Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches and harbour of the northern French town of Dunkirk.
After the German forces invaded France in May 1940, the Allied troops, consisting mainly of British, French, Belgian and Dutch soldiers, were encircled and trapped in Dunkirk. The German army had advanced rapidly through the Ardennes, outflanking the Allied defences and pushing them towards the English Channel.
With their backs to the sea and the risk of being captured or destroyed, the Allied forces were in a difficult position. However, a remarkable evacuation operation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, was organised to save as many soldiers as possible.
From 26 May to 4 June 1940, a huge armada of naval vessels, including warships, merchant ships, fishing boats and civilian ships, sailed across the English Channel to Dunkirk. Under heavy German fire and aerial bombardment, the British Royal Navy, supported by the French Navy and various civilian boats, made the perilous journey to rescue the troops.
The evacuation was a difficult endeavour, as the shallow waters around Dunkirk made access difficult for larger ships. Therefore, the ships had to anchor off the coast and the troops had to wade through the water or use small boats to reach the larger ships.
Despite these adverse conditions, the operation was remarkably successful. Over the course of nine days, around 338,000 soldiers were safely evacuated from the beaches and harbours of Dunkirk. Most of the rescued soldiers were British, but thousands of French and other Allied soldiers were also saved.
The Battle of Dunkirk had a significant impact on the war as a whole. Whilst it was a military defeat for the Allies, the successful evacuation allowed a significant number of experienced soldiers to be brought back to Britain. These soldiers would later play a crucial role in the defence of the United Kingdom.
