Dunkirk 1940 photos. Some never seen before .

Such a shame about the bandstand, I think we all know what a pleasure they are to see on our own seafronts today.

However, great to see, from Christian’s street view link, that Robinson is still there, albeit a modernised version.

 

A few more of my old photos from my collection. De Panne
Keith

 

De Panne Bandstand and sea front.
Photos from my collection.
Keith

 

One more from my collection.
Keith

 

Tanker Salone. Havre. Photo from my collection.
Link to more info . https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/captured-tanker-salome.387090/
Keith

 

Small barges loaded with bombs, on the side of one case there is SC 500K. Dunkirk 1940. Whats the building in the center?
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

Released On: 16 May 2025
Available for over a year
Steve Ladner explores the story of Thanet's Dunkirk heroes, ordinary people who did the extraordinary.

Link Secret Kent - "They waited in the pub for the call." - BBC Sounds

 

Lighthouse.
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

View from the other side.
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

My wife and I took a day off and made a little excursion to Dunkirk where we attended some of the activities planned for the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. Today seemed to be the best day for this trip as the weather forecast for the weekend predicts quite some rain. Besides, we wanted to avoid the ques and crowds. Quite a lot of tourists were already present though and - surprisingly - a lot of Germans.

After an extensive visit of the museum, where new items and artefacts were exposed, we decided on exploring the eastern mole. We decided on sharing the snapshots we took during our walk as to enable the forum community to see how the area looks like today. I tried to take a picture of every landmark in order to allow you to compare with the photos posted by Keith.



The entrance of the museum (formerly Bastion 32)



Bastion 32 overview. The camp for the re-enactors can be seen on the right.



At the commencement of the eastern mole, viewing the new hotel complex with Malo-les-Bains in the background.

 

The beach adjacent to the eastern mole where scores of British and French soldiers awaited embarcation.



The lighthouse ('phare du Risban') that is a recurrent feature on many photos shared on this thread.



On the eastern mole, viewing the Dunkirk skyline.

 

My wife pointing at the Belgian coast (De Panne) at the horizon - the starting point for a great many British soldiers on their long march to reach Dunkirk.



The end of the mole can't be reached.



The last stretch of the eastern mole, from where a great many soldiers where evacuated by the Royal Navy. Another recurrent location shown on quite a few vintage photos shared on this thread.

I hope you enjoyed these snapshots.
Wishing the whole forum community a fine weekend

KR,
Christian

 

Thank you Christian for adding the photos, i have not been to Dunkirk for a long time [ 2009 ] so nice to see the updates.
Photo from 2009
Keith

 

Dunkirk has certainly evolved quite a bit these last few years...

The city and its port have become one of the spearhead projects of France's economic development strategy. Business, including tourism, is booming. The entire vicinity around Bastion 32 is being urbanised at an incredible pace. In nearby Gravelines, two additional nuclear reactors are being build. There are also plans for a huge datacentre. The port is due to become an international LNG-hub. Also, an immense offshore windfarm is planned to be constructed which risks to spoil the original sea view. Finally, as you could see on the photos, a luxury hotel has been build on the site just next to the mole in order to accommodate the many tourists.

I fear that soon, apart from the Bastion and the lighthouse, you soon won't be able to recognise anything by the time they are going to celebrate the 100th anniversary...

So, I suppose it's all a matter of perspective...

 

Crane for lifting something, Dock gate?. Dunkirk.
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

Thank you for sharing Christian. Most emotive looking at them, time to reflect and all that…

 

Tanker Salone, Havre in the background next to the east mole.
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

Dock area Dunkirk
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

House took a hit.
Photos from my collection.
Keith

 

De Panne - no doubt about it.