Permanent historical factsheet

Battle of Dunkirk

Germany · Warfare / World War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

11Records
1940Date range
3Named people
4Places

Chronological records

1940

Heinz Guderian20 May 1940

Dunkirk · Warfare / World War, 2nd

Reaches the Channel Coast

Heinz Guderian21 May 1940

Arras · Warfare / World War, 2nd

An Allied counter-attack briefly stops the Germans

Karl Rudolf von Rundstedt23 May 1940

Charleville · Warfare / World War, 2nd

Drafts a "halt order" after concerns about the Allied counter-attack at Arras

Heinz Guderian24 May 1940

Aa Canal · Warfare / World War, 2nd

1st Panzer Division breaches the Aa Canal, 15 kilometers from Dunkirk

Heinz Guderian24 May 1940

Dunkirk · Warfare / World War, 2nd

Hitler orders the left wing to stop, it is forbidden to cross the Aa

Adolf Hitler24 May 1940

Charleville · Warfare / World War, 2nd

"Dunkirk is to be left to the Luftwaffe". A "Fuhrer order" is issued from Rundstedts HQ forbidding the left to cross the Aa

Karl Rudolf von Rundstedt24 May 1940

Charleville · Warfare / World War, 2nd

Explains to Hitler his concerns about the Allied counter-attack at Arras. A "Fuhrer order" is issued from Rundstedts HQ forbidding the left to cross the Aa

Karl Rudolf von Rundstedt24 May 1940

Dunkirk · Warfare / World War, 2nd

Halts his forces behind Dunkirk to allow the Luftwaffe the finishing blow

Heinz Guderian26 May 1940

Dunkirk · Warfare / World War, 2nd

The "halt order" is lifted & the Panzers resume their advance

Adolf Hitler26 May 1940

Charleville · Warfare / World War, 2nd

The "halt order" is lifted & the Panzers resume their advance

Heinz Guderian4 June 1940

Dunkirk · Warfare / World War, 2nd

The French rearguard surrenders

Names involved

Adolf HitlerHeinz GuderianKarl Rudolf von Rundstedt

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.