Defeat, imprisonment, and even death seemed imminent for a British expeditionary force of over 300,000 men until an armada of British destroyers and small vessels, largely manned by amateurs, staged a full-scale evacuation. SEA TALES: THE DUNKIRK DILEMMA sails back to 1940 and the seaport of Dunkirk on the northern coast of France. It became the scene of one of the largest and most heroic operations of World War II. The Nazis had overtaken France and had pinned down the British force with overwhelming force. Only the daring evacuation to England over nine days saved the 338,226 men and perhaps, ultimately, Britain itself.