Atlas of Battles

contested ground, 9 engagements

Dunkirk: contested ground

The ground around Dunkirk was fought over 9 times between 1639 and 1944: 2 battles, 4 sieges and 3 naval actions, in 5 different wars. All 9 recorded sites lie within a few kilometres of one another.

Action of 18 February 1639Siege of DunkirkSiege of DunkirkBattle of the DunesSiege of DunkirkRaid on DunkirkBattle of DunkirkSiege of DunkirkDunkirk evacuationDunkirk evacuationBrusselsThe HagueLilleRotterdamAntwerpenUtrechtBrightonPortsmouth200 km51.051N, 2.374E
9 engagements within a few kilometres, coloured by era; the ringed mark is the most widely documented.

In time order

Action of 18 February 1639, 1639Siege of Dunkirk, 1646Siege of Dunkirk, 1658Battle of the Dunes, 1658Siege of Dunkirk, 1793Raid on Dunkirk, 1800Battle of Dunkirk, 1940Dunkirk evacuation, 1940Siege of Dunkirk, 194416391944
One tick per dated engagement; each tick is a link.

Engagements by date

DateEngagementPlaceWar
18 February 1639Action of 18 February 1639Eighty Years' War
7 September 1646Siege of DunkirkDunkirkEighty Years' War
25 May 1658Siege of DunkirkDunkirkFranco-Spanish War
14 June 1658Battle of the DunesDunkirkAnglo-Spanish War
24 August 1793Siege of DunkirkDunkirkFrench Revolutionary Wars
7 July 1800Raid on DunkirkDunkirkFrench Revolutionary Wars
26 May 1940Battle of DunkirkDunkirkWorld War II
4 June 1940Dunkirk evacuationEnglish ChannelWorld War II
15 September 1944Siege of DunkirkDunkirkWorld War II

Contested ground is computed: recorded sites within six kilometres of one another, three or more engagements, in more than one war or across more than fifty years. Coordinates are those recorded in Wikidata and can be approximate.