What was the significance or Dunkirk?

Answer 1

There was a miracle that occurred at Dunkirk that help evacuate the British army from the Germans.

Some background info:

Miracle at Dunkirk:

• May 1940's Nazi's take over France
• 250 allies troops are pinned against Dunkirk (the coast)
• Hitler decides to let his air force (Luftwaffe) finish off the allies instead of using his army (Wehrmacht)

The Miracle:

• Fog rose and kept the air force grounded and 900 boats from Britain came and saved 340,000 soldiers out of 350,000.

So ya, the significance of the place was the miracle that occurred there that saved 340,000 British soldiers.

Answer 2

The successful evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and particularly the role of the "little boats" was subsequently exploited very effectively in British Propaganda. The "little boats" were private vessels, such as fishing boats, theat independently assisted the official evacuation out of patriotic duty. The result was that for many decades after the war the catch-phrase "Dunkirk Spirit" stood for an almost romantic belief in the solidarity of the British people in times of adversity.

Answer 3

The British were able to carry out a successful evacuation of most of its army from France. Although much of their heavy equipment in tanks and artillery were lost, by saving the forces, as well as some of the French allies, and others, the army was able to reequip and fight another day. Many of the same units that were forced to abandon their positions in France in 1940 returned in June of 1944 as part of the Normandy Invasion. The evacuation kept Britain in the war. Hitler had hoped to destroy the Expeditionary Force along with the French, hoping that the British would then sue for peace. By evacuating Dunkirk, Churchill forced Hitler to have to continue hostilities against Britain, before turning his attention to Russia, his number one goal. Hitler was not prepared for a cross-Channel invasion and had to try to rely on air power alone to subdue Britain, which proved unsuccessful. Staying in the fight forced Hitler to fight a two-front war, unable to devote his entire attention and forces to either front, hastening his downfall.

Answer 4

When the Germans invaded France, the French and British troops were being pushed back to the northern French coast. One of the beaches the troops were pushed to were the beaches of Dunkirk. This was a significant event because the Allied troops were waiting for any ship to come by and bring them to the English coastline across the English Channel, or else they feared death from the Germans. Britain ordered all ships to be sent to the French beaches to evacuate Allied troops. Civilian fishing boats, yachts, ocean liners, warships, you name it... every ship no matter what type was steaming full speed to France. Dunkirk was one of the most successful Allied evacuations of the French beaches. The warships and civilian ships full of troops faced fire from German coastal batteries, tanks, and the Luftwaffe, but they all pushed on through the English Channel, everyone hoping to reach the white cliffs of Dover. 300,000 Allied troops were successfully evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. It was a morale booster.

Answer 5

Dunkirk lies on the northwest of France. It became famous as the place where the largest military evacuation ever took place in the Spring of 1940. Allied troops were escaping from advancing German troops. This evacuation left Western Europe in the hands of Germany.

Answer 6

The British evacuated to save its military.