Dunkirk Evacuation

The Withdrawal from Dunkirk, by Charles Ernest Cundall
The Withdrawal from Dunkirk, by Charles Ernest Cundall

The evacuation from Dunkirk on the French coast was hailed in Britain as an extraordinary achievement and the ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ swiftly entered the mythology of wartime brave deeds.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

British soldiers wade out to a waiting destroyer off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station in London, 31 May 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk being towed back along the River Thames past Tower Bridge, 9 June 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

German forces moved into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Here German officers inspect a memorial on the sea front at Dunkirk.

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German trench club

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© IWM (WEA 4011)

Catalogue number

WEA 4011

Materials

metal
wood

Alternative Names

FULL NAME: German trench club
SIMPLE NAME: concussive weapon, German

Object Type

concussive weapon

Category

weapons and ammunition

This item is available to share and reuse under the terms of the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

Label

The specialized nature of trench warfare, as it developed during the First World War, spawned a variety of new weapons. Many of these, such as clubs and knives intended for close quarter fighting, recalled more primitive eras of warfare. This is one of most commonly found types of German trench club. It is simply a wooden truncheon into which boot nails have been driven. This weapon was brought back from France in 1918 by Albert Gulliver of the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Physical description

wooden truncheon with carved hand grip, studded with triple boot nails.

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