Battle of Dunkirk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Dunkirk
Part of the Battle of France in the Second World War
"Soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force fire at low flying German aircraft during the Dunkirk evacuation" – Soldiers were strafed and bombed by German aircraft
Date 26 May – 4 June 1940 Location Dunkirk, France Result German victory
Belligerents
France  United Kingdom  Belgium  Canada  Netherlands	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Maxime Weygand Georges Blanchard René Prioux J.-M. Charles Abrial Lord Gort	Gerd von Rundstedt Fedor von Bock Ewald von Kleist
Strength
approx. 400,000 338,226 evacuated	approx. 800,000
Casualties and losses
Estimated total casualties 61,774 killed, wounded, or captured French 18,000 killed, 35,000 captured 3 destroyers British c. 3,500 killed 63,879 vehicles including tanks and motorcycles 2,472 field guns 6 destroyers 23 destroyers damaged 89 transport ships 177 aircraft destroyed or damaged in total 127 belonged to RAF Fighter Command.	Estimated total casualties 20,000 killed or wounded 100 tanks 240 aircraft in theatre 156 aircraft on Dunkirk front
Civilian casualties: 1,000 civilians killed during air raids

The Battle of Dunkirk was a very important battle during World War II. It happened around the French port of Dunkirk in 1940. This battle was about defending and evacuating British and other Allied soldiers. They were trapped by the German army and needed to escape to Britain. The evacuation took place from May 26 to June 4, 1940.

World War II began in 1939, but the main fighting in France started on May 10, 1940. German forces quickly moved through the Netherlands and Belgium. They used a clever plan to go around the strong French defenses called the Maginot Line. This German attack cut off many Allied forces, including the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), in northern France. These soldiers were pushed back towards the coast, near Dunkirk.

Why the Germans Stopped at Dunkirk?

One of the most talked-about decisions of the war was when the Germans suddenly stopped their advance on Dunkirk. This "Halt Order" gave the trapped Allied soldiers a chance. German generals thought the area around Dunkirk was not good for their tanks. They also wanted to save their tanks for future attacks.

German leader Adolf Hitler agreed with this decision on May 24. This stop lasted for three days. It gave the Allies precious time to organize a rescue mission. The German air force, the Luftwaffe, was ordered to destroy the trapped Allied troops from the air. But bad weather sometimes helped the Allies by limiting air attacks.

Many historians still debate why the Germans stopped. Some think Hitler wanted to save his tanks. Others believe he might have hoped for a peace deal with Britain. However, official German orders at the time clearly aimed to destroy the Allied forces.

The Battle for Escape

Map showing the battle around Dunkirk.

On May 26, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the BEF to prepare for evacuation. The British and French soldiers were trapped in a small area. They were about 60 miles deep and 15 miles wide. Two large German armies were on either side of them.

As the Allies retreated, they had to leave behind much of their equipment. They destroyed their artillery and vehicles so the Germans could not use them.

• Fighting for the Perimeter:

* On May 27, a terrible event happened. German SS soldiers killed 97 British and French prisoners near the La Bassée Canal. Only two survived. * The Luftwaffe dropped bombs and leaflets on the Allied soldiers. The leaflets told them they were surrounded and should give up. But the British saw the sea as a way to escape. * German heavy artillery also began firing on Dunkirk. Over 1,000 civilians in the town were killed by these attacks.

• Belgian Surrender:

* On May 28, the Belgian army, fighting on the Lys river, surrendered. This created a 20-mile gap in the Allied defense line. * British forces quickly moved to fill this gap.

• Holding the Line:

* The defense of the Dunkirk perimeter was very tough. Allied soldiers fought bravely to hold back the Germans. * French forces, especially those near Lille, fought for four days while surrounded. This kept many German divisions busy and allowed more Allied troops to escape Dunkirk. * The Germans nearly broke through the defenses on May 31. British soldiers fought hard, even using machine guns themselves to push back the attack.

The Great Evacuation

The British War Office decided to evacuate the forces on May 25. Over nine days, from May 27 to June 4, a total of 338,226 soldiers were rescued. This included British, French, Polish, Belgian, and Dutch troops. They were carried by 861 ships. Sadly, 243 of these ships were sunk during the operation.

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk arriving at Dover, England, on May 31, 1940.

The docks at Dunkirk were too damaged to use. So, ships used the beaches and the long sea walls (moles) to pick up soldiers. This idea worked very well. On May 31 alone, over 68,000 men were evacuated.

The last British soldiers left on June 3. But Churchill insisted on going back for the French. The Royal Navy returned on June 4. They rescued over 26,000 French soldiers that day. However, between 30,000 and 40,000 French soldiers were left behind and captured. Around 16,000 French and 1,000 British soldiers died during the evacuation. About 90% of Dunkirk town was destroyed.

What Happened Next?

The Battle of Dunkirk memorial in France.

After Dunkirk, the German army continued its attack into France. Many French soldiers who had been evacuated from Dunkirk returned to France to keep fighting. But on June 14, the decision was made to evacuate all remaining British troops from France. This was called Operation Aerial. By June 25, nearly 192,000 Allied personnel were evacuated from other French ports.

The amount of equipment left behind at Dunkirk was huge. The British Army lost enough gear for about eight to ten divisions. This included thousands of guns, tanks, motorcycles, and trucks. It took months for the British Army to get new equipment. They even had to use old buses from scrapyards as troop transports!

The evacuation was called the "Miracle of Dunkirk." Many people felt it was a miracle because so many soldiers were saved. The calm seas and misty weather helped protect the ships from German bombers.

A memorial stands at Dunkirk to remember the brave soldiers who fought there. It honors the pilots, sailors, and soldiers who sacrificed themselves.

The "Dunkirk Spirit"

The successful evacuation of Dunkirk became a symbol of hope. The British press highlighted the role of the "Dunkirk little ships." These were small private boats, like fishing boats and pleasure cruisers. They sailed across the English Channel to help rescue the soldiers.

These small boats could get closer to the beaches than bigger ships. They acted like shuttles, taking soldiers from the shallow water to the larger ships waiting further out. The term "Dunkirk Spirit" is still used today. It means the spirit of togetherness and determination shown by the British people during tough times.

Dunkirk Medal

A special medal was created in 1960 to honor those who took part in the Battle of Dunkirk. It was first given to French defenders. Later, it was also given to British forces and the brave civilians who volunteered with their "little ships." The medal has the Dunkirk town symbol on one side and "Dunkerque 1940" on the other.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Dunkerque (1940) para niños