1940 the B.E.F. at War, Campaign in Northwest Europe and, 'Operation Dynamo', Evacuation from Dunkirk

The epic story of one of the most outstanding episodes of the Second World WarAs the Second World progressed in earnest in 1940 in the west, the British Expeditionary Force faced annihilation by the rapidly advancing German "Blitzkrieg". Defeated, the British began a desperate retreat to the Channel coast, made a heroic sacrificial stand at Calais, and was ultimately rescued by an incredible seaborne evacuation.The BEF had become trapped together with French forces in a pocket in northern France and Flanders. A counter-attack was attempted, but failed. General Gort then ordered a fighting withdrawal toward the last available port, Dunkirk. Elements of the army were ordered to hold the port of Calais at all costs. Almost all of those British defenders were killed or captured, but their four-day defence successfully enabled the main army's escape. Codenamed, 'Operation Dynamo', the evacuation took place between 26 May and 4 June, involving a massive fleet of nearly a thousand vessels These included naval destroyers and the legendary civilian little ships including pleasure craft, fishing boats, yachts, and lifeboats. Soldiers waded into the sea to be collected or boarded ships from the harbour mole that remained usable despite heavy bombing. Over 338,000 Allied soldiers were saved. This Leonaur edition-made possible by the release into the public domain of officially produced publications- contains three essential accounts that have been woven together to make a continual narrative of these momentous events.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.