Dunkirk evacuation

The evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, to Britain between 26 May and 4 June 1940, during the German advance through western Europe.

Operation Dynamo: The British military operation that evacuated Allied troops from Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June 1940. Its ships and shore parties organized the evacuation under Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay.
Battle of France: The German campaign that defeated France and its allies in western Europe from May to June 1940. Its rapid advance cut Allied forces off from the rest of France.
Bertram Ramsay: British admiral who directed Operation Dynamo from Dover in 1940. He coordinated the naval planning and execution of the evacuation.
We Shall Fight on the Beaches: Winston Churchill’s 4 June 1940 speech to the House of Commons about Britain’s resolve to continue fighting. The speech acknowledged evacuation while rejecting the idea that it meant victory.
Dunkirk perimeter: The defensive line around the Dunkirk beachhead held by Allied troops during the evacuation. Its shrinking boundary protected the beaches and port long enough for embarkation.
Fall of France: The defeat of France by Germany in 1940 and the collapse of the French Third Republic. Dunkirk’s evacuation preceded France’s armistice and the end of the campaign.
Winston Churchill: British prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. He authorized the evacuation and framed its meaning in a parliamentary speech.
Dunkirk spirit: A British expression for collective resilience associated with the 1940 evacuation from Dunkirk. The evacuation became a symbol of civilian cooperation and national endurance.
Royal Navy: The United Kingdom’s naval service, responsible for maritime operations and defense. Warships and personnel transported large numbers of troops across the Channel.
German invasion of France: The German military invasion of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg beginning in May 1940. The invasion drove Allied troops toward the Channel coast.

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