Defence of the perimeter Battle of Dunkirk

british prisoners of war pzkpfw ib german tank

while still moving position, ran headlong german 256th division, trying outflank gort. armoured cars of 12th lancers stopped germans @ nieuport itself. confused battle raged along perimeter throughout 28 may. command , control on british side disintegrated, , perimeter driven inwards toward dunkirk.

meanwhile, erwin rommel had surrounded 5 divisions of french first army near lille. although cut off , heavily outnumbered, french fought on 4 days under general molinié, thereby keeping 7 german divisions assault on dunkirk , saving estimated 100,000 allied troops.

the defence of dunkirk perimeter held throughout 29–30 may, allies falling degrees. on 31 may, germans broke through @ nieuport. situation grew desperate 2 british battalion commanders manned bren gun, 1 colonel firing , other loading. few hours later, 2nd battalion, coldstream guards of 3rd division, rushed reinforce line near furnes, british troops had been routed. guards restored order shooting of fleeing troops , turning others around @ bayonet point. british troops returned line , german assault beaten back.

in afternoon, germans breached perimeter near canal @ bulskamp boggy ground on far side of canal , sporadic fire durham light infantry, halted them. night fell, germans massed attack @ nieuport. eighteen raf bombers found germans while still assembling , scattered them accurate bombing run.