The British Expeditionary Force, or "BEF", was an army of nearly a third of a million troops sent out to defend France from German invasion. Allied with Belgium and powerful French forces, it fielded ten infantry divisions, artillery, tank brigades and supporting air squadrons.
General Lord Gort’s BEF fought well, but were outmaneuvered often, leading to tactical withdrawals and the heroic retreat at Dunkirk during May and June of 1940.
