Battle of Dunkirk

battle_name=Battle of Dunkirk

Background

After the Phony War, the Battle of France began in earnest on May 11, 1940. German armour burst through the Ardennes region and advanced rapidly driving north in the so-called "sickle cut". To the east the Germans invaded and subdued the Netherlands and advanced rapidly through Belgium.

Related Topics:
Phony War - Battle of France - May 11 - 1940 - German - Ardennes - Netherlands - Belgium

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The combined British, French, and Belgian forces were rapidly split around Armentières. The German forces then swept north to capture Calais, holding a large body of Allied soldiers trapped against the coast on the Franco-Belgian border. It became clear to the British that the battle was lost and the question was now how many Allied soldiers could be removed to the relative safety of England before their resistance was crushed.

Related Topics:
British - French - Armentières - Calais

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