Between 26 May and 4 June 1940, Operation Dynamo was launched to rescue Allied forces trapped by the rapid German advance through France. As the British Expeditionary Force and other Allied troops were pushed back to the coast, the situation became increasingly desperate, necessitating a massive maritime evacuation from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk. The operation relied on a diverse fleet of naval vessels and civilian boats, which braved constant aerial bombardment and artillery fire to ferry soldiers across the English Channel to safety.

By the conclusion of the operation, more than 338,000 British and Allied troops had been successfully evacuated. This achievement preserved the core of the British Army, ensuring that these experienced soldiers could return to the fight in later stages of the conflict. Despite the scale of the rescue, the British government remained acutely aware of the gravity of the military situation on the continent.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the nation and Parliament regarding the outcome of the mission, tempering the relief of the rescue with a sober assessment of the broader strategic reality. While the survival of the troops was a significant accomplishment, he famously cautioned that wars are not won by evacuations alone. The event remains a defining moment of the Second World War, symbolising both the vulnerability of Allied forces in 1940 and the resilience of the British effort.

• The evacuation took place over ten days in late May and early June 1940.
• Over 338,000 British and Allied personnel were rescued from the French coast.
• A vast array of naval and civilian vessels participated in the operation.
• The mission successfully salvaged the majority of the British Expeditionary Force.
• Winston Churchill warned that the rescue did not constitute a victory in the war.