Today in History - Scuttling of the French Fleet

[Wildfire]

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Seventy years ago today, sailors of the French Navy defied the Germans and scuttled their fleet at the main
Mediterranean base of Toulon in southern France. The scuttlings took place as German armored formations
entered Toulon and the naval arsenal before dawn in a frantic attempt to capture the fleet intact. In some
cases, German soldiers boarded the ships even as the French crews set off explosives, forcing French and
German alike to abandon ship. Twelve Frenchmen were killed by Germans during the operation.

Seventy-seven ships were sunk or destroyed at Toulon that day, including 2 battle cruisers, 1 battleship, 7
cruisers, 15 destroyers and 12 submarines. The heart of the French fleet — a modern, balanced Navy that
featured the powerful battle cruisers STRASBOURG and DUNKERQUE along with a number of fine, modern
cruisers and destroyers — was destroyed. The Germans were outraged, while the French actions were
viewed by most Frenchmen as heroic.

While many of the scuttled warships were raised by Italian and German engineers, only a handful of smaller
ships were repaired, and none of the major warships ever returned to service.

 

[sleaguepunter]

instead of scuttling the fleets, those ships shd have sortie out of port and sail to french africa colonies.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

WTF the french destroyed their own ships so the germans couldn't use them? Man how useless do you have to be to not even have the ability to use your own ships to fight the enemy and have to destroy them so the enemy doesn't have the chance to use them and on top of that their own country men view their actions as heroic!

Then again the french are white ppl and not china or chinese so you know they are so heroic for doing that you can ask some forummers in here too. Try watchman.

 

[moolightaffairs]

i agree should go to a friendly port than to destroy it.

 

[Kinana]

i agree should go to a friendly port than to destroy it.

Their airforce was destroyed and no air cover. No point sailing out.
Those who can run already did.

 

[halsey02]

instead of scuttling the fleets, those ships shd have sortie out of port and sail to french africa colonies.

The Germans were already there, you think it is so easy to sortie out of port like that? maybe you have watch too many, "Pirates Of The Caribbean"..

 

[eatshitndie]

before that, the british destroyed the french fleet at mers-el-kebir, sinking 1 battleship, damaging 5 other ships, and killing over 1200 french servicemen. at that time, france least expected an attack from her ally, britain.

 

[sleaguepunter]

The Germans were already there, you think it is so easy to sortie out of port like that? maybe you have watch too many, "Pirates Of The Caribbean"..

If have time to place scuttling charges but no time to fire up the boilers to steam out of port?

I don't find the reference of the pirates being funny.

 

[moolightaffairs]

Their airforce was destroyed and no air cover. No point sailing out.
Those who can run already did.

AA gun can deal with the bombers. maybe not all will survive, at least got some can make it . u r not into marine stuff u dunno.

 

[lorrydriver]

The French Navy was under the Vichy government, ie the puppet government of the germans and were under armistice agreements therefore they had not enough crew to sail out of port.......

 

[wMulew]

The amazing French fell to the Germans in 1 month while even puny SG can last a week. Now trying to make themselves look like heroes.

 

[Rogue Trader]

before that, the british destroyed the french fleet at mers-el-kebir, sinking 1 battleship, damaging 5 other ships, and killing over 1200 french servicemen. at that time, france least expected an attack from her ally, britain.

Yes I remember Churchill ordered the french fleet to be destroyed rather then letting them fall into krauts hands. So there were 2 different incidents ...

 

[Cestbon]

Useless French. At least put up a fight even lost battle. If put up fight at least few German ship will sink.

 

[Sunstreaker]

France went down in just 6 weeks after Germany launched her offensive. China resisted the Japanese offensive for eight years.

 

[Kinana]

The amazing French fell to the Germans in 1 month while even puny SG can last a week. Now trying to make themselves look like heroes.

Walau, you fellas think you are smarter than the French soldiers who fought in war n risk their lives. You over smart Singkie la