May 27, 1940—75 years ago today—was the first day of the evacuation of Allied (mostly British) troops from the French port of Dunkirk across the English Channel to Dover and other British ports. Over nine harrowing days, nearly 350,000 British, French and Belgian troops were rescued from the last strip of the French coast not in the hands of German forces.
A variety of commemorations will take place during the week, and many visitors are expected at memorial sites, and at the Musee de l’Operation Dynamo in Dunkirk. Operation Dynamo was the name given to the rescue mission.
The operation, which Churchill called “a miracle of deliverance,” was carried out by boats of nearly every sort, from military craft to fishing boats to yachts, ferries and tourist boats. It was arguably the darkest moment of the war for the Allies; 11,000 died protecting the perimeter while the evacuation took place.
Follow this LINK to a Telegraph (UK) story that includes many then and now photographs.
Photo: troops line up waiting for evacuation, 29 May 1940 (Imperial War Museum photo)
