Siege of Dunkirk (1944–1945)
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The siege of Dunkirk in World War II (also known as the Second Battle of Dunkirk) began in September 1944, when the Second Canadian Division surrounded the fortified city and port of Dunkirk. The siege lasted until after the end of the European war in Europe. German units within the fortress withstood probing attacks and as the opening of the port of Antwerp was more important, the 21st Army Group commander, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, decided to contain but not capture Dunkirk with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade. The fortress, commanded by Admiral Friedrich Frisius, eventually surrendered unconditionally to Brigadier General Alois Liška, the commander of the Czechoslovak brigade group, on 9 May 1945, a day after the surrender of Nazi Germany took effect.
Siege of Dunkirk (1944-1945) | |||||||
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Part of the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine in the Second World War | |||||||
Czechoslovak soldiers on a Cromwell tank near Dunkirk, shortly after the German capitulation. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Canada United Kingdom Czechoslovakia France | Germany | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Bernard Montgomery Harry Crerar Alois Liška |
Wolfgang von Kluge Friedrich Frisius | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
14,000+ | 14,000 |