Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo

Welcome to the Museum Dunkerque 1940, located within the historic Bastion 32 (pronounced Bas-tee-on). This formidable structure, dating back to 1874, served as the headquarters for the French and British higher command during the…

At the entrance to the museum, you are greeted by 'big guns' and military vehicles that were used during the 1940 campaign. One notable exhibit is a massive 130-millimeter French shell casing, a reminder of the 'overwhelming…

One of the museum's most moving sections is dedicated to the 'Operation Dynamo shipwrecks'. You will see artifacts and models of vessels like the 'Crested Eagle,' a ship that was bombed by the Germans while carrying 600 people. …

The museum features an extensive collection of 'original' uniforms from the French, British, and Belgian armies. You will see the distinctive blue of the French Navy, the khaki of the British Expeditionary Force, and the uniforms…

A highlight of the museum is the large 'maquette' or scale model showing the state of the evacuation on May 30th, 1940. It depicts the 'two piers' made using lorries (trucks) driven into the water, a desperate and 'brilliant'…

Looking upward, or rather at the engines that once powered the war in the skies, you will find impressive remains of aircraft. There is a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine from a Spitfire, the iconic plane that provided cover for the…

The final sections of the museum cover the German perspective and the subsequent occupation. You will see captured German equipment, including a 'mortar' and various 'personal items' taken from the battlefield. …

As you exit the Museum Dunkerque 1940, you are leaving a site that 'arose from the ashes of World War II'. Operation Dynamo was a 'turning point' where a 'stubborn, disciplined retreat' allowed the British army to remain…