Dunkirk

:For other uses of Dunkirk or Dunkerque, see Dunkirk (disambiguation).

History

The area was much disputed between Spain, England, the Netherlands and France. In the Eighty Years War the port was the base of the infamous Dunkirker Raiders until the city was conquered by Louis XIII of France in 1646. Private shipping magnates (reders in Dutch) operated whole privateer fleets to intercept Dutch merchants. It became definitively French when Charles II of England sold it to France for £40,000 on 17 October 1662. During the reign of Louis XIV, a large number of commerce raiders had again their base at Dunkirk; Jean Bart was the most famous, known for attacking Dutch ships.

Related Topics:
Spain - England - Netherlands - Eighty Years War - Dunkirker Raiders - Louis XIII of France - 1646 - Privateer - Charles II - 17 October - 1662 - Louis XIV - Commerce raider - Jean Bart

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In World War II, heavy fighting took place around Dunkirk during the German invasion in 1940, but a lull in the action unexpectedly allowed a large number of French and British soldiers to escape to England. 340,000 men were evacuated amidst constant bombing (the miracle of Dunkirk, as Winston Churchill called it). The British evacuation of Dunkirk was codenamed Operation Dynamo. During the war, Dunkirk was largely destroyed by bombing.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1940 - Winston Churchill - Operation Dynamo

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On 14 December 2002, the Norwegian auto carrier Tricolor collided with the Bahamian-registered Kariba and sank off Dunkirk harbor, causing a hazard to navigation in the English Channel.

Related Topics:
14 December - 2002 - Norwegian - Auto carrier - Tricolor - Bahamian - English Channel

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