![]() ![]() Received the following signal for French Admiral Gensoul Paramount and, in the early hours of July 2, Sommerville The risk of the French war ships falling into enemy hands was too However, for Churchill and his War Cabinet, Inflicting significant damage to Royal Navy fleet, which was already spread very They also argued that the French fleet could resist, The planned engagement, would turn French public opinion against theīritish. They argued that "Operation Catapult", the code name given to Senior British commanders, notably Somerville himself, opposed the To prepare for possible action in the Mediterranean. Early in Julyġ940, Churchill ordered the formation of "Force H", under Vice-Admiral Somerville, Lay at anchor in the the French Algeria port of Mers-El-Kebir. The biggest single concentration of the French fleet Including force, if absolutely necessary.Īfter the signing of the armistice, many French naval units fled France to avoid capture. The British, therefore, decided to neutralise the French fleet by any means at their disposal, ![]() This arrangement was a particular worry to the British, since they believed, with some justification, that the neutrality given to the French by the Axis powers,Ĭould not be relied upon. They governed over 2/5ths of the French land mass in the south of France, their To establish itself in the city of Vichy in south, central France. The Germans permitted the new French administration, under Marshall Petain, The terms of the French capitulation were Most of Europe had been quickly overrun and only the English Channel prevented Operation Torch, North Africa, in Nov 1942.Īfter the French surrendered to the Germans on June 22 1940, Britain stood alone. The invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and Several Combined Operations against the Vichy French, including the Litani River Although not a Combined Operation, this naval action is included hereīecause it provides useful background to British concerns about militaryĬontrol, including their foreign held territories. If theįleet fell into German hands it would be a considerable threat to the British Squadron of the French Naval Fleet at anchor in Mers el Kebir harbour. ![]() Neutralisation of elements of Vichy French Naval Fleet. Operation Catapult - Mers-el-Kebir, North Africa. ![]()
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