After trapping the Allied forces in Belgium, the Germans began to drive them toward the English Channel.
The only hope for Britain and France was to evacuate their surviving troops by sea, but the Germans had captured all but one port, Dunkirk, in northern France near the Belgian border.
As German forces closed in on Dunkirk, Hitler suddenly brdered them to stop.
No one is sure why he gave this order but Historians know that Hitler was nervous about risking his tank forces, and wanted to wait until more infantry arrived.
Herman Goering, the head of the German air force, assured Hitler that the aircraft alone could destroy the trapped soldiers.
Whatever Hitler’s reasons, his order provided a 3 day delay.
This gave the British time to strengthen their lines and begin the evacuation.
Some 850 ships of all sizes—from navy warships to small sailboats operated by civilian volunteers—headed to Dunkirk from England, many making the 48 mile trip multiple times.
The British had hoped to rescue about 45,000 troops, instead when the evacuation ended on June 4, an estimated 338,000 British and French troops had been saved.