a port in northern France. During World War II about 220 ships of the Royal Navy and 660 small private boats sailed across the Channel between 26 May and 4 June 1940 to bring back to England many British, French and Belgian soldiers who were trapped in Dunkirk by the advancing German army. More than 330 000 soldiers were rescued, and the expression the Dunkirk spirit is now sometimes used in referring to occasions when people show great determination and courage in a difficult situation:
The Prime Minister praised the Dunkirk spirit shown by the organizers of the event.