The Battle of Dunkirk 1940

1. The Battle of Dunkirk 1940

2. 1940 – The British Army is in France hoping to stop a German invasion. This Army is known as the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F). The British Army

3. The British Army • British troops were stationed on the French-Belgian border. • France was further protected by the French Maginot Line • The ran along the German border and was made of concrete, steel, trenched and ditches.

4. The Maginot Line

5. The French Maginot Line

6. The Maginot Line

7. The Maginot Line

8. The Maginot Line

9. The Maginot Line

10. The Maginot Line

11. The Maginot Line

12. The Escape to Dunkirk • When the BEF arrived at Dunkirk they were surrounded. • Royal Navy Ships attempted to rescue British troops. • BUT, the German bombing over Dunkirk destroyed the boat pier. • The BEF were stranded

13. May 1940, Operation Dynamo made use of 860 small yachts and motorboats to rescue soldiers Evacuation

14. Evacuation

15. Evacuation

16. Evacuation

17. Conclusion • The rescue was a success, 300’000 British soldiers were evacuated. • But, Britain lost all their heavy equipment (tanks and heavy guns). • Dunkirk was a massive British defeat.