Dunkirk

As the British Expeditionary Force is pushed back to the Channel coast by advancing German forces, a group of civilian boat owners and soldiers become caught up in the desperate effort to rescue trapped troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. The film interweaves the perspectives of frontline soldiers and the civilians who sail to help evacuate them.

Operation Dynamo evacuated over 330,000 Allied soldiers from Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June 1940, using a combination of Royal Navy vessels and hundreds of civilian 'little ships,' after German forces trapped the British Expeditionary Force and French units against the coast.

The film blends real historical events with fictional composite characters representing soldiers and civilian boat volunteers.

With the British Expeditionary Force and French units cut off against the Channel, the Royal Navy and hundreds of civilian craft lifted the trapped armies off the beaches and mole at Dunkirk.

A German halt order and stubborn rearguard actions at Calais and along the Lys bought time. Over nine days roughly 338,000 British and Allied troops were evacuated, though nearly all heavy equipment was abandoned.

Directed by Leslie Norman

Cast: John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Bernard Lee, Robert Urquhart

Positioned at 26 May – 4 June 1940 within the Battle of France phase of the war, as part of the Battle of France. This is entry 28 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Dunkirk evacuation
• Operation Dynamo
• little ships
• Battle of France

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  Dunkirk

  26 May – 4 June 1940

• 

  Weekend at Dunkirk

  26 May – 4 June 1940

• 

  Atonement

  1935–1940

• 

  Darkest Hour

  10 May – 4 June 1940

• 

  Their Finest

  1940–1941

• 

  Mrs. Miniver

  1939–1940