Question

Why was Dunkirk a miracle?

Answer 1

Dunkirk was a political disaster but a strategic and morale success for Britain
Dunkirk for the British was a miraculous escape, but as Churchill said wars are not won by defeats. It is probable the lack of committing the panzers from the German point of view is that Hitler needed to use them in future operations & could ill afford their loss at that stage of WW2. The escape to freedom of over 330 000 men (Albeit leaving their equipment in France) was beyond all expectation.

Answer 2

Because it was widely expected that the German army would capture the BEF, since they were trapped against the Channel. The loss of so many trained men early in the war would have been a disaster, since, even defeated, they would form the core of an expanded army, and provide invaluable experience for the training of new recruits and draftees.

The British government managed to get a monster flotilla of private boats to take British soldiers off the Norman beaches, so that most of the BEF was in fact rescued. The Germans hadn't counted on the success of such an impromptu "grassroots" non-military evacuation, so they took no steps to prevent it (e.g. by stationing naval assets in the Channel).

Answer 3

Yay, thanks so much!