Dunkirk

City

Dunkirk is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It lies 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the Belgian border. The population of the city (commune) at the 1999 census was 70,850 inhabitants (71,300 inhabitants as per February 2004 estimates). The population of the metropolitan area was 265,974 inhabitants as per the 1999 census.

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Documents about Dunkirk

Wednesday 22nd May 1940

Food Supplies for French and Belgian Refugees.

extract UK to send food relief to French and Belgian refugees in Northern France. Numbers nearing 1m, says French Ambassador
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Dunkirk
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM argues Air Ministry exaggerating extent of German air superiority. Praises Hurricane as “fine fighting machine”
extract Naval vessels standing by for re-embarkation in Dunkirk area. “Awaiting information" on points selected for operation.”
extract Belgian line near Comines Canal in “grave danger of collapse”. British 5th and 48th divisions sent to reinforce
extract Troops in Calais “still holding out with great gallantry”. Evacuated troops replaced by “other men of the same unit”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place South Africa
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
place South America
place West Germany
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Evacuation of children from vulnerable UK coastal towns to begin in 72 hours. London registration will begin June 3rd
extract Cabinet discuss possible German plans for invasion of UK and home defence. PM suggests using gas to defend UK beaches
extract Home Secretary prepares deportation of 1,500 Italians (“desperate characters”) if Anglo-Italian relations worsen further
extract French government makes clear their intention to approach Signor Mussolini without the UK
extract Air Chief: Bad weather over France "in our favour" preventing Germany bombing beaches
extract Admiralty and War Office put number of troops evacuated at over 100,000. Information Minister to tell press of withdrawal
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clive Anderson
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Dunkirk
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Navy
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract US State Department warns appeal to US from UK and France counterproductive. Suggests broadcast to the Empire. PM agrees
extract PM: Dunkirk "first real trial of strength" for RAF and Luftwaffe. Germany has "failed consistently", far heavier loss
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 42 confirmed and 14 unconfirmed German aircraft shot down yesterday against 26 British losses
extract PM: "Now clear" embarkation must be completed tonight. "No hope" for French troops outside our perimeter. Navy concur
extract Lord Gort reports shelling and bombing of Dunkirk beaches "extremely severe". General Alexander struggling to hold line
extract Cabinet to consider more help for France. Suggestion to send bombers to southern France ready to attack Italian industry
extract PM informs Cabinet of discussions at Allied War Council in Paris. French satisfied with Dunkirk, Norway evacuation plans
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norwegians negotiating over UK withdrawal. Evacuation held for 24 hours. Churchill: “Decision to withdraw must stand
extract Chiefs of Staff to make recommendations on how much force can be spared for France’s defence before Cabinet decides
extract Churchill believes three divisions can be in France within 5-6 weeks. RAF bombers to attack targets selected by French
extract Cabinet discusses which forces can be sent to reinforce French on Somme front. Difficult to re-equip BEF
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Commander in Chief Home Forces to report to Cabinet within 48 hours on progress of preparations against invasion of UK
extract PM urges General Staff to work on “problem of defeating tanks”. General Dill says this being “intensively examined”
extract Halifax: Everything points to Italy “having decided to come into the war against us”. Italy cargo ships to be intercepted
extract Evacuation figures from Dunkirk at 1200 BST: 276,030 men removed. (215,369 British, 59,866 Allied troops)
extract Reynaud requests three UK division be redeployed to Western front and RAF fighters to be based in French aerodromes
extract Telegram from PM Reynaud: “We have indications of an early attack at several points on the Front”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Dunkirk
organisation British Army
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Dominions Secretary to invite Canadian government to take over defence of Iceland from occupying British force
extract Cabinet approves changes to UK bombing rules. Chamberlain: German action provides "fullest justification" for proposals
extract Report from Rome of German plan to move troops from Naples to Cadiz for attack on Ireland. Halifax: “Unwise to ignore”
extract Total number of evacuees at 0600 BST: 292,380. Halifax: Total not to be released to Press because of French objections
extract Situation confused. Unclear how many French now at bridgehead. Germans not pressing attack but beach under artillery fire
extract PM: Personnel of BEF have been withdrawn to this country "practically intact". French could do more to evacuate
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Ironside briefs on Home Defence plans: police powers, road blocks, production of new “Ironsides”
extract Intelligence report that Italians may make ultimatum to Allies. PM: "Our rejection should take the form of an air attack"
extract General Dill:”No doubt” Germans planning attack towards Paris. Expects this “in four or five days' time, or even earlier”
extract First Sea Lord: Navy "keeping a look-out for individual British soldiers who might reach the French coast"
extract General Dill: 20,700 men remain "unaccounted for. Most of these must have been killed or taken prisoner."
extract General Dill informs Cabinet "final measure" of Dunkirk evacuation completed overnight. Men evacuated (0000 BST) 310,216
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Great Britain
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief reports on German bombing of Paris overnight. UK gave French "full warning", yet pilots not ready for action
extract PM reconsiders air support for France. UK cannot hold back RAF for defence while French “fighting for their lives”
person Ronnie Campbell
person Edward Spears
place Great Britain
place Dunkirk
place Paris
organisation French Air Force
 

Friday 5th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets junior Ministers over home defence concerns: "Terrible events" part of invasion but enemy will be "thrown back"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Dunkirk
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Royal Navy