A ship badly damaged at Dunkirk, 1940

Photograph, World War Two (1939-1945), 1940.

German propaganda photograph of a British ship sunk during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

In late May and early June 1940 outflanked Anglo-French forces retreated towards the beaches at Dunkirk. Fighting a series of rearguard actions en route they were forced to abandon much of their equipment to the advancing Germans. Troops on the beaches and shipping attempting to evacuate men were subject to fierce air attacks and artillery bombardment from the advancing German forces.