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Dunkirk (1940)

Study note

In 1940, as France fell to the Germans, large numbers of British and French soldiers were trapped on the beaches around Dunkirk in northern France. The British decided to evacuate them by sea before they could be captured or killed.

The rescue became famous because of who helped. Alongside the Royal Navy, many ordinary civilian volunteers sailed across in small pleasure boats and fishing boats to bring the soldiers home. Together they managed to rescue more than 300,000 men, so that is the number to remember. The courage and teamwork shown gave rise to the phrase the Dunkirk spirit, still used today to describe Britons pulling together in difficult times.

Memory tip: Dunkirk 1940: small boats help rescue over 300,000 men; the 'Dunkirk spirit'.

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Question 1 of 3

Roughly how many men were rescued during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940?

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Show all questions and answers for Dunkirk (1940)(3 questions with explanations)

Dunkirk (1940): questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Roughly how many men were rescued during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940?

    • More than 300,000
    • About 3,000
    • About 3 million
    • About 30,000

    Correct answer: More than 300,000

    More than 300,000 men were rescued from the beaches around Dunkirk.

  2. 2. Who helped the Navy rescue soldiers from Dunkirk?

    • Civilian volunteers in small boats
    • The French navy only
    • The American army
    • The Royal Air Force alone

    Correct answer: Civilian volunteers in small boats

    Many civilian volunteers in small boats helped rescue the soldiers.

  3. 3. The evacuation of Dunkirk gave rise to the phrase 'the Dunkirk spirit'.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. The phrase 'the Dunkirk spirit' came from the 1940 evacuation.

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