Attacks on the Vichy French Fleet in North Africa
James Porter SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Regions:
- Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: £70 includes travel expenses.
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 30th July 2025
- Tagged:
- 1939-45 | Naval History | Vichy | Military History
The talk deals with the momentous events surrounding the unexpected collapse of France and the negotiation of an Armistice between Germany and France in which the French Navy was an important bargaining chip. Some French officers wanted to fight on and move their ships to Britain, joining de Gaulle's Free French forces, but the French Government needed the ships as valuable negotiating assets. They wished to gain the best possible terms from Germany. Meanwhile Britain was alarmed at the possibility of such powerful naval forces falling into the hands of the Nazis, and felt compelled to take all necessary steps to prevent this. And so an ultimatum was issued to the French ships lying in North African ports to sail to Britain, sail to the West Indies or USA, or to sink themselves. When the ultimatum was ignore, the Royal Navy opened fire on ships that had been their Allies, only days earlier. Churchill described the action as "the most hateful decision, the most unnatural and painfuli n which I have ever been concerned."
Views: 13 | Enquiries: 0About James Porter
I am a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. I retired in 2011 after 41 years' service. I attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, received a BA (Hons) at Lancaster University, attended the Army Staff College, Camberley. I have commanded an infantry platoon, company and battalion, and served several tours of duty in Northern Ireland. I also served in West Germany, Berlin and the Falkland Islands. I am originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. I live in North Dorset. I offer more than 30 different Military History talks, which may be given face-to-face or via Zoom.
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