During World War II, Operation Ariel was the escape of French and British forces from northern France after the collapse of that country.

This evacuation was conducted from several ports (Cherbourg, St. Malo, Brest, St. Nazaire, La Pallice , and Nantes) during the period 16 to 24 June, 1940. Over 163,000 British, French, Polish and Canadian soldiers were brought to safety.

See Dynamo.