Definition
Dunkirk refers to the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, during World War II in 1940. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were trapped by advancing German forces. A massive rescue effort, involving civilian boats, saved a huge number of troops. It became a symbol of resilience and the 'Dunkirk spirit' of overcoming adversity. Think of it like a real-life, large-scale extraction mission.