What was the Siege of Calais (1940)?

Introduction The Siege of Calais (1940) was a battle for the port of Calais during the Battle of France in 1940 (during World War Two). The siege was fought at the same time as the Battle of Boulogne, just before Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) through Dunkirk. After the Franco-British… Read More

Advertisements

What was the Battle of Dunkirk (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Dunkirk (French: Bataille de Dunkerque) was fought in Dunkirk (Dunkerque), France, during the Second World War, between the Allies and Nazi Germany. As the Allies were losing the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation to Britain of British and other Allied… Read More

What was the Le Paradis Massacre (1940)?

Introduction The Le Paradis massacre was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein. It took place on 27 May 1940, during the Battle of France (World War Two), at a time when troops of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were attempting to… Read More

What was the Battle of Boulogne (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Boulogne in 1940 was the defence of the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer by French, British and Belgian troops in the Battle of France during the Second World War. The battle was fought at the same time as the Siege of Calais, just before Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force… Read More

What was the Battle of Abbeville (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Abbeville took place from 27 May to 4 June 1940, near Abbeville during the Battle of France in the Second World War. On 20 May, the 2nd Panzer Division advanced 56 miles (90 km) to Abbeville on the English Channel, overran the 25th Infantry Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division… Read More

What was the British Expeditionary Force?

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the name of the British Army in Western Europe during the Second World War from 02 September 1939 when the BEF GHQ (General Headquarters) was formed until 31 May 1940, when GHQ closed down. Military forces in Britain were under Home Forces command. During the 1930s, the British government… Read More