Battle of Dunkirk

The Battle of Dunkirk was a pivotal event during World War II in 1940, when Allied forces, primarily British and French troops, were surrounded by German armies in northern France. As defeat seemed imminent, a massive evacuation effort was launched across the English Channel, involving military ships and hundreds of civilian vessels. Over nine days, roughly 338,000 soldiers were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk and brought back to Britain. While it was a retreat, the successful evacuation preserved a large portion of the Allied forces, allowing them to regroup and continue fighting in the war.