1940: Operation Dynamo | Dunkirk
, 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
Churchill and his advisors originally hoped to save only 20,000 to 30,000 men . The Rescue Effort Dunkirk 1940: Operation Dynamo
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. , often referred to as the "Miracle of
Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay directed the mission from naval headquarters beneath Dover Castle . between May 26 and June 4