Operation Dynamo was a miracle for the Allies as they successfully evacuated 338,000 English, French, and Belgian forces at Dunkirk in Belgium. However, it was also an incredible blunder by German High Command. They underestimated the British ability to rapidly evacuate their men using the Royal Navy and a fleet of 'small ships.' The German generals focused on conquering Paris instead of potentially wiping out the entire British Expeditionary Army. A couple of factors influenced their decision.