Dunkirk evacuation facts for kids
The Dunkirk evacuation was a huge rescue mission during World War II. It's also known as Operation Dynamo or The Miracle of Dunkirk. From May 26 to June 4, 1940, British and Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, a town in France. The German army had surrounded over 300,000 soldiers after the Battle of Dunkirk.
For some reason, the German commanders didn't order an attack on the trapped soldiers. This gave the Allies a chance. Winston Churchill, who was the British Prime Minister, quickly ordered every available ship and boat to go to Dunkirk. Their goal was to pick up the soldiers and bring them to safety.
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The Rescue Mission Begins
The plan was to rescue about 45,000 British soldiers. Everyone expected the Germans to try and stop them. Over 900 ships and boats took part in this mission. Many of these were small fishing boats and pleasure boats. Larger ships also helped.
On the first day, only 7,000 soldiers were rescued. They were picked up from the harbour, but none from the beaches. The next day, 17,000 soldiers were evacuated. This time, some were rescued from the beaches too.
Saving Thousands of Soldiers
The rescue effort quickly grew. On the third day, 47,000 soldiers were saved. The fourth day saw 54,000 more rescued, including the first French soldiers. The busiest days were the fifth and sixth days. During this time, over 60,000 Allied soldiers escaped each day.
By the seventh day, almost all the British soldiers had left. However, the boats kept going back for the French soldiers. They rescued about 26,000 soldiers each day. The evacuation lasted for nine days. In total, 200,000 British soldiers and 140,000 French soldiers made it safely to Great Britain.
What Happened After Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a big defeat for the British and Allied forces. They lost almost all their tanks, big guns, and other heavy equipment. However, the evacuation was a huge success. Most of the British Army in France, and a large part of the French Army, escaped. This meant they could fight again later in the war.
Images for kids
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Situation on 21 May 1940; German forces occupy the area shaded in pink
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Lord Gort (gesturing, at centre) was commander of the British Expeditionary Force.
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Soldiers were strafed and bombed by German aircraft while awaiting transport.
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Troops evacuated from Dunkirk arrive at Dover, 31 May 1940
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Situation on 4 June 1940; the remaining French rearguard held a sliver of land around Dunkirk
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East mole (2009)
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Map of the three evacuation routes
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Evacuated troops enjoying tea and other refreshments before boarding a train at Dover Station, 26–29 May 1940
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Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940
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Bourrasque slowly sinking
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Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel Mona's Queen shortly after striking a mine on the approach to Dunkirk, 29 May 1940
See also
In Spanish: Operación Dinamo para niños
