Retreat from Dunkirk, soldiers in water, WW2

May 26, 1980 - 40th Anniversary of the retreat of the French and the English Auxiliary Troops from Dunkirk: The fight round Dunkirk in the year 1940 was one of the decisive battles in Hitler's west campaign'. French armed forces and English auxiliary troops, having been pressed together in the area of Dunkirk, formed a bridgehead. On May 26th 1940 they started to retreat to England by sea. Until 3rd June 112000 French and 225000 British were embarked. This enterprise was carried out by a large number of small ships, which partly had to be requisitioned from the deep-sea fishing, and it was one of the most dramatic actions of the whole 2nd World War. The allied troops had been forced to leave behind all material and most important parts of the equipment, which nearly undamaged fell into the hands of the Germans. Photo shows Partly up to their neck the retreating soldiers had to go into the water, because the waiting ships could not come nearer to the shore

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

40th Actions Auxiliary Bridgehead Decisive Deep-sea Dunkirk Embarked Enterprise Evacuation Forced Formed Nearer Nearly Numerous Partly Pressed Requisitioned Retreat Retreating Undamaged

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY