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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Dunkirk
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Town on the north coast of France, 40km/25m east of Calais, at which the British snatched victory of a sort from the jaws of defeat in *World War II. The rapid German advance in May 1940 had forced the *British Expeditionary Force and other Allied troops back to the coast. Evacuation began from Dunkirk on May 26. The next day the harbour was bombed, so the main operation was moved to a long stretch of beach east of the town, where only small craft could come in close enough to pick up the soldiers. A fleet of peacetime vessels (fishing boats, private cruisers, river ferries) was rapidly assembled. It had been expected originally that only some 10,000 could be saved from falling into German hands. In the event the motley fleet of 860 vessels had by June 4 ferried over to England 200,000 British and 140,000 French troops.
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