This document provides a brief overview of some key events at the beginning of World War II:
- Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 starting the war. France and Britain declared war on Germany two days later.
- After the declarations of war, France and Britain mobilized their armies but Germany did not immediately attack, resulting in a "Phony War".
- By the end of May 1940, German forces had surrounded Allied forces near Dunkirk, France. Britain launched a rescue operation at Dunkirk to evacuate their trapped army by sea.