Today in World War II History—May 26, 1940 & 1945
Monday, May 26, 2025 by Sarah Sundin
British troops in a ship evacuating from Dunkirk, France, late May 1940 (US War Department photo)
85 Years Ago—May 26, 1940: Operation Dynamo, the evacuation at Dunkirk begins in the evening: 338,226 British and French troops will be evacuated from French beaches by everything from destroyers to civilian fishing boats, through June 4.
In Britain, Empire Day is declared a national day of prayer.
British Gen. Sir John Dill is named Chief of Imperial General Staff.
80 Years Ago—May 26, 1945: Chinese nationalists capture Nanning, cutting off Japanese forces in Indochina.
