Initial plans called for the recovery of 45,000 men from the BEF within two days, at which time German troops were expected to block further evacuation.
De første planer drejede sig om evakuering af 45.000 mand fra British Expeditionary Force i løbet af to dage, hvorefter det forventedes at de tyske tropper ville være i stand til at blokere for yderligere evakueringer.