Visiting Dunkirk: The Story of Operation Dynamo and the WWII Rescue

In the spring of 1940, the world watched a miracle unfold on the beaches of Dunkirk. The German Army had surrounded over 338,000 Allied soldiers, pushing them to the edge of the sea with no way out. What happened next became one of the most dramatic rescues of World War II.

Operation Dynamo began on May 26, 1940. The British Navy launched a massive evacuation attempt, but the real heroes included everyday people. More than 800 vessels answered the call — not just warships, but small fishing boats, private yachts, tugs, and lifeboats. Many were civilian-owned and sailed by local volunteers who crossed the English Channel under constant danger to bring soldiers home.

Against impossible odds, they saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Today, the beaches of Dunkirk remain one of Europe’s most moving WWII sites, where families can walk the shoreline and imagine the scenes of courage that took place here.

Dunkirk is now part of the growing list of World War II destinations your family can explore with the DuckAbroad Travel Passport. New stamps and stickers are available, so you can add this historic site to your collection and follow the stories that shaped our world.

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