Dunkirk is viewed by the British mostly as a triumph.  But it was born from the disaster of The Battle of France which covers the German invasion and defeat of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

It took Germany, starting on 10th May 1940 which was the same day as Churchill became Prime Minister, just six weeks to conquer four countries and drive a fifth, the United Kingdom, from continental Europe. In this short period Germany accomplished what they had failed to achieve in four years during the First World War.