The Battle of Dunkirk
On May 10th, 1940, the German army were on their way to start invading western European countries, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. While on their journey, the German Army made their way into France on May 12th. With the Dutch surrendering, three days after the Germans entering France, it allowed the Germans to advance to the English Channel to cut off communications between the North and South Allied army. With the communications cut off between the North and the South, the German army was now able to enclose the Northern army.
Soon after, the German army had successfully trapped the British and French mixed army on the beaches of Dunkirk. 330, 000 men were trapped and were easy targets for the Germans to exterminate. Just as the German army were about to claim victory of the battle, Hitler took a moment to decide whether to end the battle with the army or the air force. In that brief moment, the Allied forces quickly found an escape.
The British immediately sent 800 fishing, pleasure, and commercial boats across the English Channel. These boats managed to carry the Allied troops from the beach of Dunkirk to safety across the channel.
In less than a month, France officially surrenders. The fall of France meant that Hitler controlled almost all of Western Europe. Hitler's next target: Britain.
This battle was often known as "the miracle of Dunkirk", because of all the lives saved on the Allies side. If all 330, 000 men were killed by the Germans, it would have allowed the Axis to win the war.
Soon after, the German army had successfully trapped the British and French mixed army on the beaches of Dunkirk. 330, 000 men were trapped and were easy targets for the Germans to exterminate. Just as the German army were about to claim victory of the battle, Hitler took a moment to decide whether to end the battle with the army or the air force. In that brief moment, the Allied forces quickly found an escape.
The British immediately sent 800 fishing, pleasure, and commercial boats across the English Channel. These boats managed to carry the Allied troops from the beach of Dunkirk to safety across the channel.
In less than a month, France officially surrenders. The fall of France meant that Hitler controlled almost all of Western Europe. Hitler's next target: Britain.
This battle was often known as "the miracle of Dunkirk", because of all the lives saved on the Allies side. If all 330, 000 men were killed by the Germans, it would have allowed the Axis to win the war.
What did the Canadians do?
Four Royal Canadian Navy destroyers had also joined the escape. The Canadians helped save many of the soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk.