The Miracle of Dunkirk: Operation Dynamo

<p> The Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers who had been cut off by the German army during the <a href="http://battlefieldstours.org/visit-europe-battlefields">Battle of Dunkirk</a>, from the beach and harbour of Dunkirk in France.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> The evacuation took place between 27 May and 4 June 1940 and was mainly conducted by the British and French armies,</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> Winston Churchill ordered the evacuation on 26 May. In a speech to the House of Commons, he called the Battle of Dunkirk &quot;a colossal miltary disaster&quot;, explaining &quot; the whole root and core and brain of the British Army&quot; had been stranded at Dunkirk and were about to perish.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> The Seige of Lille (28-31 May 1940) involved the remaining 40,000 men of the French First Army delaying action against seven divisions, which were attempting to cut off and destroy the Allied armies of Dunkirk.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> By the ninth day of Operation Dynamo at total of 338,226 soldiers (199,229 British and 139,997 French) had been recued by an fleet of&nbsp; 933 boats- including merchant marines, fishing boats, pleasure craft and Royal National Lifeboa Institution lifeboats.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> On 4 June, Winstin Churchill described the rescue as a &quot;miracle of deliverance&quot; in his <em>We shall fight them on the beaches </em>speech.</p>