What happened to the French fleet in WWII?

The French fleet was annihilated and only a handful of small ships escaped to assist the Allied forces for the rest of the war. A year later, the Italian naval fleet did what de Gaulle wished the Vichy French had done. They set sail for North Africa after the Italian Armistice in 1943.

When did England sink the French fleet?

Churchill’s Sinking of the French Fleet (July 3, 1940) On June 13, 1940, Winston Churchill took one of several trips to France during Hitler’s Blitzkrieg. After convincing the French not to sign a separate armistice with Germany just two months prior, Churchill was now being begged to release them from the obligation.

Where did Churchill sink the French fleet?

Hitler’s concerns were not known to Britain. However, on July 1, Churchill was finally able to get the backing of the War Cabinet to sink the ships if they would not be surrendered. On July 3, the British surrounded the French Fleet at the port of Mers-el-Kebir right outside Oran, Algeria.

How big was the French fleet in ww2?

In 1940, the French fleet was the fourth largest naval force in the world after Britain, the United States and Japan. Its strength included seven battleships, 19 cruisers, 71 destroyers and 76 submarines.

When did Churchill sink the French fleet?

What happens when the British destroy the French fleet anchored near Alexandria?

According to The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, what happens as a result of the British destroying the French fleet anchored near Alexandria? Napoleon, his army, and the scholars become trapped in the land they have just conquered. Napoleon, his army, and the scholars are frightened and spend a lot of time devising a plan to escape.

What happened to the French fleet after WW2?

The French Fleet. Hitler’s concerns were not known to Britain. However, on July 1, Churchill was finally able to get the backing of the War Cabinet to sink the ships if they would not be surrendered. On July 3, the British surrounded the French Fleet at the port of Mers-el-Kebir right outside Oran, Algeria.

Why did Churchill refuse to attack the French fleet?

Before France could officially surrender, Churchill tried to convince his War Cabinet to attack the French Fleet. The War Cabinet refused. There were several concerns on the table. For one, the attack would surely result in the loss of British troops and ships.

What was the British contingency plan to eliminate the French fleet?

The British made a contingency plan, Operation Catapult, to eliminate the French fleet in mid-June, when it was clear that Philippe Pétain was forming a government with a view to ending the war and it seemed likely that the French fleet might be seized by the Germans.