Operation David

Operation David (1940)
Part of Battle of Belgium
British troops of the BEF cross the border into Belgium, 10 May 1940.
Date 10–24 May 1940 Location Belgium Result German victory
Belligerents
France  United Kingdom  Belgium	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Georges Maurice Jean Blanchard Lord Gort	Fedor von Bock

Operation David was the codename for the deployment of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) into Belgium at the start of the Battle of Belgium during the Second World War. On the same day as the German invasion of neutral Belgium, 10 May 1940, the BEF moved forward from their prepared defences on the Franco-Belgian border to take up a new position deep inside Belgium, conforming to plans made by the French high command. Forming a defensive line with French and Belgian forces on either side, the BEF were able to contain attacks by German infantry divisions, but were unaware that this was a diversion; the main thrust by highly mobile German armoured divisions was further south. To avoid complete encirclement, the BEF and their allies were forced into a series of fighting retreats and ended up back at their initial border positions by 24 May. However, the German spearhead had reached the coast behind them, cutting them off from their supply chain and leading to the Dunkirk evacuation of the BEF in the following days.