The Siege of Calais (1940) – When the Allies Were Desperately Trapped

The Siege of Calais took place from May 22 to 26, 1940, during the German invasion of France. As German forces advanced rapidly through northern France, British and French troops were ordered to hold the port city of Calais at all costs to delay the enemy and protect the evacuation of Allied forces from nearby Dunkirk. Around 4,000 British soldiers, primarily from the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and the Rifle Brigade, held out against overwhelming German forces under General Heinz Guderian. Despite fierce resistance, including street-to-street fighting and heavy bombardment, Calais eventually fell. Most defenders were killed or captured, but their sacrifice delayed the Germans just long enough to help secure the evacuation at Dunkirk, known as Operation Dynamo. Winston Churchill later praised the defenders’ courage, noting their stand had "measurably helped" the larger war effort. The siege became a symbol of British resolve in the face of German WW2 aggression.
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SOURCES
– https://www.historynet.com/siege-calais-1940/ (18-04-2025).
– Calais - A Fight to the Finish - May 1940 (John Cooksey).
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VIDEO
Video material from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlaHcNTqmI&ab_channel=Begleitkommando
Victory in the West (Sieg im Westen, 1941) [1440p, 60fps]
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"Crossing the Chasm"
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Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Видео The Siege of Calais (1940) – When the Allies Were Desperately Trapped канала History Hustle