1. A seaport in northern France on the North Sea; scene of the evacuation of British forces in 1940 during World War II
   - Dunkerque
    
2. An amphibious evacuation in World War II (1940) when 330,000 Allied troops had to be evacuated from the beaches in northern France in a desperate retreat under enemy fire
   - Dunkirk evacuation, Dunkerque
    
3. A crisis in which a desperate effort is the only alternative to defeat
   "the Russians had to pull off a Dunkirk to get out of there"

Type of: amphibious operation, crisis, evacuation, port, town

Part of: Second World War, World War 2, World War II

Encyclopedia: Dunkirk, Maryland