# Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo > Follow the evacuation from Dunkirk’s harbor and beaches, the role of naval command and civilian craft, and the German advance that trapped Allied forces. Canonical URL: https://aristotree.com/juneatlas/dunkirk-may-june-1940-operation-dynamo Language: en Creator: juneatlas Last modified: 2026-10-08T08:11:31.541Z Concepts: 10 Relationships: 14 This is a public, user-curated knowledge graph. Follow the cited sources when verifying claims. ## Concepts ### British Expeditionary Force (World War II) The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the contingent of the British Army sent to France in 1939 after Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September, beginning the Second World War. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Expeditionary_Force_(World_War_II) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Expeditionary_Force_(World_War_II)?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo Follow the evacuation from Dunkirk’s harbor and beaches, the role of naval command and civilian craft, and the German advance that trapped Allied forces. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Little Ships of Dunkirk The Little Ships of Dunkirk consisted of over 800 naval and requisitioned vessels, and small, private boats, that sailed from Ramsgate in England to Dunkirk in northern France between 26 May and 4 June 1940 as part of Operation Dynamo, helping to rescue more than Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ships_of_Dunkirk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ships_of_Dunkirk?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, was a senior British Army officer. As a young officer during the First World War, he was decorated with the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vereker%2C_6th_Viscount_Gort - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vereker%2C_6th_Viscount_Gort?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Battle of Dunkirk The Battle of Dunkirk was fought around the French port of Dunkirk (Dunkerque) during the Second World War, between the Allies and Nazi Germany. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dunkirk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dunkirk?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom, responsible for defending the country, the Crown Dependencies, and the Overseas Territories from naval attack or invasion. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Bertram Ramsay Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay, KCB, KBE, MVO was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded the destroyer HMS Broke during the First World War. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Ramsay - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Ramsay?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Charles Lightoller Commander Charles Herbert Lightoller was a British mariner and naval officer who was the second officer on board the ocean liner RMS Titanic during its ill-fated maiden voyage, and was the most senior crewmember to survive the disaster. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lightoller - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lightoller?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Dunkirk Dunkirk is a major port city in the department of Nord, and the region of Hauts-de-France, northern France. 2 mi) from the Belgian border. It has the third-largest French harbour. The population of the commune is about 86,000. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ## Relationships - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Charles Lightoller: Civilian rescue captain - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Bertram Ramsay: Evacuation commander - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → British Expeditionary Force (World War II): Trapped British force - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Little Ships of Dunkirk: Civilian rescue craft - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Dunkirk: Evacuation port - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Battle of Dunkirk: Defensive battle - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort: British field commander - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Royal Navy: Evacuation fleet - Dunkirk, May–June 1940: Operation Dynamo — related_to → Winston Churchill: British prime minister - Charles Lightoller — related_to → Little Ships of Dunkirk: Sailed with rescue craft - John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort — related_to → British Expeditionary Force (World War II): Commanded the force - Little Ships of Dunkirk — related_to → Dunkirk: Rescued troops here - Royal Navy — related_to → Dunkirk: Evacuated troops by sea - Battle of Dunkirk — related_to → Dunkirk: Defended the perimeter