TNA ADM 199 792

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CONFIDENTIAL
Office of
The Flag Officer Commanding,
DOVER.
No. A.14/0/876/40.
18th June, 1940.
Sir,
Be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the
following report on Operation "DYNAMO", namely the evacuation
of the Allied Armies from Dunkirk and neighbouring beaches
between 26th May and 4th June, 1940. The report takes the
form of this covering letter, together with detailed
narrative and appendices.
2. THE POLICY AND THE PROGRESS OF THE EVACUATION.
During the course of the operation 316,663 troops
reached safety in England after being evacuated from Dunkirk,
and from the beach stretching 10 miles eastward from the
entrance to Dunkirk Harbour. To those on the French coast,
when in the early stages anything up to 50,000 troops were
waiting to embark on a 10 mile sea front, the presence of
perhaps 20 small warships offshore, and 200 small boats spread
along the length of coast at any given moment, must have
appeared as a feeble effort to tackle this great task.
Furthermore, it was impossible to adjust the arrival of ships,
either at Dunkirk or opposite the beaches, to synchronise with
the ebb and flow of the troop concentrations.
Broadly speaking, for the first 5 days of the move-
ment, had more beaching craft been available to ferry from the
beach to offshore vessels, it would have been possible to have
evacuated a greater number. For the last 3 to 4 days, however,
when the main bulk of the B.E.F. had already been evacuated,
the rate of lifting was governed by the availability of the
troops during the limited hours evacuation was possible.
3.
Throughout the operation one of the greatest
difficulties was the ever changing situation presented.
Within 24 hours of the start, the operation took the shape of
a forlorn hope to rescue the maximum number, say up to
45,000 before the whole force was to be overwhelmed by the
enemy.
Next, the military situation became more stable, and
it appeared that some three to four days would be available
to complete evacuation of the B.E.F., estimated at some
175,000. During this stage evacuation by British resources
of French troops was introduced, some 25,000 being mentioned.
During the course of the fifth day (30/5) a tentative
decision to lift the rearguard of the B.E.F. off the beaches
at a definite time, viz. 0130/1, was reached. 24 hours later
this plan was altered by military considerations, involving an
extension of the period of evacuation. At the same time, the
Naval authority was definitely committed to provide for the
evacuation of French forces, then mentioned as about 40,000/
50,000.
Later, the French number rose and 150,000 or more was
quoted. Finally no agreement could be reached with the French
e Secretary
as/
of the Admiralty,
London, S. W. 1.