Tessa Quinn
During World War II, German forces invaded northern France and the Low Countries in May 1940, cutting off Allied forces in Belgium. This led to the Dunkirk evacuation, also known as Operation Dynamo, where more than 338,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk between May 26 and June 4, 1940. The evacuation was carried out by a fleet of civilian craft and Royal Navy ships, under the protection of the Royal Air Force, which intercepted German bombers. While the RAF was successful in preventing many German attacks, the town of Dunkirk and the dock installations were heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, and it is during this time that German forces are believed to have bombed and sunk a hospital ship near Dunkirk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2nd June 1940 |
| Location | Off the coast of Dunkirk, France |
| Hospital Ship | HMHS Paris |
| Outcome | Damaged/Crippled, then Sunk |
| Casualties | 2 crew killed, several nurses injured |
| Cause | Bombing by German Stuka dive bombers |
| Intentional | Unclear, possibly incidental or mistaken identity |
| RAF Intervention | Yes, RAF plane drove off Germans |
| Nuremberg Trials | No mention of individual unlawful engagement cases |
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What You'll Learn
- The hospital ship HMHS Paris was sunk by German bombing during the evacuation
- German losses during the Battle of Dunkirk included 23 Dornier Do 17s
- RAF squadrons provided air cover for the Royal Navy during the evacuation
- German bombers were hindered by high mist during the Battle of Dunkirk
- German troops were expected to block further evacuation after two days
The hospital ship HMHS Paris was sunk by German bombing during the evacuation
The Dunkirk evacuation, also known as Operation Dynamo or the Miracle of Dunkirk, was the rescue of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, in northern France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. The evacuation took place after large numbers of Belgian, British, and French troops were cut off and surrounded by German troops during the six-week Battle of France.
During the evacuation, German forces bombed and sank the hospital ship HMHS Paris. The HMHS Paris was badly damaged by German bombing at around 7 pm on 2 June 1940, and it sank on 3 June. Two crew members were killed, but casualties were otherwise amazingly low. The ship was damaged by the shock of the concussion from the bombs, as it was an older vessel.
The sinking of the HMHS Paris was likely not a deliberate attack by German forces. The ship was flying the red cross, indicating its status as a humanitarian vessel, and Germany was bound by the Hague Convention X of 1907 to refrain from attacking hospital ships. The German bombers may have misidentified the ship or accidentally hit it with a bomb aimed at something else. If the attack was intentional, the Germans would likely have inflicted more damage, as they did to other British shipping off Dunkirk.
The HMHS Maid of Kent was another hospital ship that was sunk by German bombing during the broader Dunkirk campaign. The HMHS Maid of Kent was bombed and sunk while leaving Dieppe Harbour on 21 May 1940, with 54 casualties.
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German losses during the Battle of Dunkirk included 23 Dornier Do 17s
The Dunkirk evacuation, also known as Operation Dynamo, took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940. It involved the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk in northern France. The operation was carried out after Belgian, British, and French troops were cut off and surrounded by German forces during the six-week Battle of France.
During the evacuation, German forces employed a combination of aerial and ground attacks. The Luftwaffe played a significant role, conducting bombing raids and strafing runs. German heavy artillery also fired high-explosive shells into Dunkirk. The RAF engaged in aerial combat with the Luftwaffe, resulting in losses on both sides. German losses during the Battle of Dunkirk included 23 Dornier Do 17s. This particular aircraft was favoured by the Luftwaffe due to its manoeuvrability and ability to perform low-level strikes.
The RAF's efforts during the evacuation were crucial in providing air cover and protection for the Allied armies and evacuation fleet. The RAF squadrons faced heavy resistance from the Luftwaffe, which was protected by fighter sorties. Despite the challenges, the RAF was able to inflict a significant toll on the German bombers and played a key role in ensuring the success of the evacuation.
The Luftwaffe's focus on Dunkirk shifted during the evacuation. Initially, they targeted the Allied armies and transport vehicles. On 27 May, the Luftwaffe bombed a traffic jam for two hours, destroying or immobilizing about 80% of the vehicles. On the same day, they also dropped leaflets urging the British soldiers to surrender, believing they were surrounded. However, the British saw the sea as a route to safety.
The RAF continued to engage and inflict losses on the Luftwaffe throughout the week. On 28 May, the Luftwaffe switched their attention to the Belgian ports of Ostend and Nieuwpoort, while the RAF flew patrols and sorties, claiming 23 destroyed aircraft. The following day, on 29 May, the Luftwaffe's Ju 87s took a heavy toll on shipping, sinking the HMS Grenade and crippling the Mistral. Despite these attacks, the evacuation efforts persisted, and by 31 May, over 68,000 men were embarked.
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RAF squadrons provided air cover for the Royal Navy during the evacuation
The RAF played a crucial role in providing air cover for the Royal Navy during the evacuation of Dunkirk, also known as Operation Dynamo. The RAF's efforts were focused on protecting the evacuation fleet and ensuring the safe return of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
During the evacuation, the RAF committed 16 front-line fighter squadrons to provide continuous air cover. Over nine days of operations, the RAF carried out 171 reconnaissance, 651 bombing, and 2,739 fighter sorties, losing 177 aircraft. The RAF's presence was crucial in deterring German air attacks and providing cover for the Royal Navy warships involved in the evacuation.
The RAF's contribution extended beyond air cover as Coastal Command played a vital role in patrolling shipping routes in the English Channel and the Belgian and Dutch coasts. They also undertook bombing raids and worked to prevent interference from German submarines and Schnellbooten (E-Boats). The efforts of Coastal Command were instrumental in disrupting German naval movements and protecting the evacuation route.
Despite the RAF's valiant efforts, some British soldiers accused them of doing nothing to help. This perception may have arisen because most of the dogfights between the RAF and the Luftwaffe took place away from the beaches, out of sight of the soldiers. However, records from the War Office and Admiralty, as well as testimonies from the Army, attest to the crucial role played by the RAF in ensuring the success of the evacuation.
The RAF's air cover allowed the Royal Navy to evacuate more than 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June 1940. The evacuation was a remarkable feat, made possible by the combined efforts of the RAF, Royal Navy, and other Allied forces.
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German bombers were hindered by high mist during the Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk, fought between the Allies and Nazi Germany, took place between May 26 and June 4, 1940. It was the defence and evacuation of British and other Allied forces to Britain from the French port of Dunkirk. The evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, was also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk. Over 338,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated during the operation.
The German advance on Dunkirk was halted for three days, which gave the Allies time to organise the evacuation. This was a major strategic mistake by the Germans, as it allowed the Allies to evacuate most of their troops. However, the Germans still inflicted heavy casualties and forced the Allies to abandon their equipment.
During the Battle of Dunkirk, German bombers were hindered by high mist. The Archbishop of Canterbury had announced that the Day of National Prayer might be a turning point, and many believed that God had answered their prayers with the Miracle of Dunkirk, which included calm seas and high mist that interfered with the accuracy of German bombers.
The RAF also played a critical role in protecting the evacuation fleet and inflicting a heavy toll on the German bombers. However, many British soldiers accused the RAF of doing nothing to help, as most of the dogfights took place away from the beaches. The Luftwaffe engaged with 300 bombers, which were protected by 550 fighter sorties and attacked Dunkirk in twelve raids. They dropped 15,000 high-explosive and 30,000 incendiary bombs, causing extensive damage to the town and dock installations.
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German troops were expected to block further evacuation after two days
The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, was the rescue of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers from the French seaport of Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June 1940. The evacuation was prompted by the German invasion of the Low Countries and northern France in May 1940. The German blitzkrieg attack on the Netherlands began on 10 May, with the capture of key bridges by parachutists, paving the way for mobile ground forces.
By 21 May, German forces had trapped the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), Belgian forces, and three French field armies along the northern coast of France. The BEF commander, General Viscount Gort, recognised that evacuation across the English Channel was the best course of action and began planning a withdrawal to Dunkirk, the closest good port.
On 26 May, just before 19:00, Winston Churchill ordered Operation Dynamo to begin, by which time 28,000 men had already departed. The initial plans aimed to recover 45,000 men from the BEF within two days, after which German troops were expected to block further evacuation. However, only 25,000 men escaped during this period, including 7,669 on the first day.
The evacuation was a critical turning point in World War II, as it disrupted Hitler's blitzkrieg strategy, which relied on maintaining concentrated forward momentum in the invasion of France and Belgium. The success of the evacuation can be attributed to several factors, including favourable weather conditions, the use of civilian boats, and the defensive efforts of the Allied forces.
During the evacuation, RAF squadrons provided air cover for the Royal Navy, engaging in dogfights with the German Luftwaffe. The RAF inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans, with 16 squadrons claiming 38 kills on 27 May while losing 14 aircraft themselves. The RAF's efforts protected the evacuation fleet and contributed to the overall success of the operation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the HMHS Paris was bombed by German Stuka dive bombers and sank on June 3, 1940. Two crew members were killed.
Yes, the Hospital Carrier (HC) Isle of Guernsey was attacked by German planes. The Isle of Guernsey was able to dock at Dunkirk and load over 600 wounded men, but the lifeboat carrying the nurses was subsequently bombed again, causing several injuries.
Yes, the Maid of Kent was sunk on May 21, 1940, at Dieppe, with 54 casualties.
Attacking a hospital ship is a war crime under the Hague Convention X of 1907. However, there is no indication that the attack on the HMHS Paris was addressed in any formal hearing or trial. The attack was likely incidental and not intentional, as the Germans would have been capable of sinking the ship more quickly if that had been their intention.
