Our resident historian Dr. John Foster discusses the Dunkirk Evacuation, a retreat that saved more than three hundred thousand lives and, arguably, the Allied Forces during World War II.
As France’s military collapsed before the Nazi Blitzkrieg in May 1940, the leaders of the British Expeditionary Force faced a stark choice – remain and be annihilated or try to find a way back to Britain. Foster will share the story of how more than 300,000 ingeniously escaped death and lived to fight another day. He’ll also talk about the many who sacrificed their lives so others could escape.
In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has a doctorate degree in history. He has taught history at both high school and college levels. Previously, he has led series on the Battles of World War II, the Cold War, the American Revolution, The Vietnam Wars, and US Presidents of the 20th Century at the library.