On May 26, 1940, the British military launched Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France. The operation began after German forces trapped hundreds of thousands of British, French, and Belgian troops in a pocket around the port city.
Over the next nine days, a fleet of over 800 vessels—including Royal Navy ships and civilian boats—evacuated approximately 338,000 soldiers. The evacuation was a critical moment in World War II, allowing the Allies to save a significant portion of their forces for future battles.
The operation ended on June 4, 1940. While a military defeat, the successful evacuation boosted British morale and became known as the "Miracle of Dunkirk."
