Was the Battle of Dunkirk a triumph or defeat?​

Learning objectives:​
To understand why Britain chose to retreat​
To evaluate the success of Operation Dynamo​

Starter: Students look at a leaflet dropped by the German Luftwaffe on the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk. Students answer questions and have a brief discussion about the effect of this sort of propaganda on the morale of an army.

Task 1: This source is based on the textbook The 20th Century World but will work for any textbook you have on hand that has information on the Dunkirk evacuation. If your students have internet access they can do their own research. Students find reasons for and against the success of the evacuation.

Task 2: Students watch Dunkirk on Netflix. It’s not necessary to watch the whole film, much to the disappointment of the class but they were enraptured by it. The first 23 minutes is roughly enough for students to gather enough information to fill in the table. If you have a longer lesson, try the challenge task where you compare it to the presentation of the beach in Atonement.

Task 3: Why did the British succeed at Dunkirk? Students watch a video and identify and explain the key reasons.

Plenary/homework: Was the Dunkirk evacuation a disaster or a triumph? Students write an extended answer using the information they have gathered.