About the French commune. For the World War II evacuation, Dunkirk Evacuation. Dunkirk in World War II : Battle of Dunkirk and Dunkirk evacuation British troops embarking from Dunkirk's beaches During the Second World War, in the May 1940 Battle of France, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), while aiding the French and Belgian armies, were forced to retreat in the face of the overpowering Ger..