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WWII: Dunkirk Evacuation | How the 'little ships' helped rescue the Allied troops
About this collection
At the end of May 1940, at the government's request, thousands of boats set sail to rescue almost a quarter of a million Allied troops who had retreated from Hitler's forces onto the shores of Dunkirk. It was a time when Britain faced the possibility of defeat.
This collection includes personal accounts from some of those who took part in the mass evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, that exemplify the 'Dunkirk spirit' and documents showing the government's control over which stories reached the airwaves.
Features
- Cancellation of Army Broadcasts
Cancellation of Army Officers' and Men's Broadcasts
All broadcasts from officers and men in the army are to be stopped.
- Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
CH Lightoller
- News: Dunkirk Evacuation
- News: An appeal for boating skills
WWII: Dunkirk Evacuation Collection
- Programmes (25)
- Documents (16)
Churchill's First Broadcast as PM
Winston Churchill makes his first prime ministerial broadcast.
News
An appeal for boating skills
An appeal for Dunkirk recruits on behalf of the government.
News
RAF fighter planes dispatched to Dunkirk
Ed Murrow reports on his visit to a fighter airfield.
Broadcast to the Nation by the Rt Hon Anthony Eden
Rt Hon Anthony Eden recounts the events of the 'battle for the ports'.
Dunkirk Evacuation
BEF Experiences
Four members of the BEF describe their retreat to Calais and Dunkirk.
News
Ed Murrow Sees Churchill in the Commons Giving News of Dunkirk
Reporter Ed Murrow hears Churchill's speech in the Commons.
Postscripts
JB Priestley
JB Priestley pays homage to the small boats of Dunkirk.
News Postscript
Minister of Shipping Ronald Cross
The shipping minister recounts the past few days at Dunkirk.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
Margate Lifeboats
The role of Margate's lifeboats in the Dunkirk evacuation.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
Thames Tugboats
A Thames tugboat master describes how he helped with the Dunkirk operation.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
The Royal Daffodil
The captain of the Royal Daffodil recounts being bombed.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
CH Lightoller
Commander Lightoller is interviewed by Charles Gardner.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
Memories of Dunkirk by those who were there.
Dunkirk: A Personal Perspective
HMS Malcolm
A member of the crew aboard HMS Malcolm recounts the evacuation at Dunkirk.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Sgt John Bridges
A former sergeant speaks about his dramatic escape from Dunkirk.
Dunkirk: Twenty Years After
Recollections of those who took part at Dunkirk on shore, in the air and at sea.
Dunkirk Revisited
Former French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud is interviewed about Dunkirk.
Yesterday's Witness
One Man's Dunkirk
One man relives the darker moments of Dunkirk.
Dunkirk: Forty Years On
Dunkirk veterans from north-east England remember the evacuation.
Week in Week Out
Last General
Survivors share their memories of the Wormhoudt massacre.
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