Dunkirk 1940: - Operation Dynamo

, often referred to as the "Miracle of Dunkirk," was the massive naval evacuation of over 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, between May 26 and June 4, 1940 . Key Overview

Over two-thirds of the rescued troops actually boarded from the East Mole , a long stone sea wall that allowed larger ships to dock despite the harbor's destruction. Dunkirk 1940: Operation Dynamo

The Royal Air Force (RAF) flew thousands of sorties to defend the perimeter from the German Luftwaffe , though many soldiers on the beach felt they were being abandoned because most dogfights happened out of sight. Evacuation Timeline & Numbers Date (1940) Key Events Troops Rescued May 26 Operation Dynamo officially ordered to commence. 7,669 May 28 Belgian Army surrenders; first "Little Ships" arrive. 17,804 May 29 Heavy Luftwaffe attacks; French army joins evacuation. 47,310 May 31 Biggest day of the evacuation; Lord Gort departs. 68,014 June 4 Last night of operation; Germans occupy Dunkirk docks. 26,175 Total 338,226 Allied soldiers (including ~140,000 French) . Historical Significance , often referred to as the "Miracle of

The operation was launched after German "Blitzkrieg" tactics trapped the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and elements of the French and Belgian armies against the English Channel. Evacuation Timeline & Numbers Date (1940) Key Events

Churchill and his advisors originally hoped to save only 20,000 to 30,000 men . The Rescue Effort

While nearly 40 Royal Navy destroyers carried the bulk of the troops, over 800 small civilian vessels —including fishing boats, yachts, and ferries—helped ferry soldiers from shallow beaches to larger ships or directly back to England.