Following the fall of france, the french navy was docked in territory now under the control of either Germans, or the french Vichy government.
The germans had solemnly sworn to respect french neutrality now that they were "Out" of the war, and not to seize their navy, army, or airforce as part of the armistice agreement.
Churchill responds:
"What is the value of that? Ask half a dozen countries, what is the value of such a solemn assurance?"
It is impossible for us, your comrades up to now, to allow your fine ships to fall into the power of the German enemy. We are determined to fight on until the end, and if we win, as we think we shall, we shall never forget that France was our Ally, that our interests are the same as hers, and that our common enemy is Germany. Should we conquer we solemnly declare that we shall restore the greatness and territory of France. For this purpose we must make sure that the best ships of the French Navy are not used against us by the common foe. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have instructed me to demand that the French Fleet now at Mers el Kebir and Oran shall act in accordance with one of the following alternatives;
(a) Sail with us and continue the fight until victory against the Germans.
(b) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would be repatriated at the earliest moment.
If either of these courses is adopted by you we will restore your ships to France at the conclusion of the war or pay full compensation if they are damaged meanwhile.
(c) Alternatively if you feel bound to stipulate that your ships should not be used against the Germans lest they break the Armistice, then sail them with us with reduced crews to some French port in the West Indies — Martinique for instance – where they can be demilitarised to our satisfaction, or perhaps be entrusted to the United States and remain safe until the end of the war, the crews being repatriated.
If you refuse these fair offers, I must with profound regret, require you to sink your ships within 6 hours.
Finally, failing the above, I have the orders from His Majesty's Government to use whatever force may be necessary to prevent your ships from falling into German hands.
The British bombed and sank a large part of the french navy after the fall of france, to prevent the navy from being used against the British isles.
This was regarded as a betrayal by many of the french, the admiral of the french navy assuring the british at the time that the french navy would not sail against britain and the allies. In 1940, about 13,000 brits were evacuated from Gibraltar to French Morocco. Following the fall of france, and the sinking of the french navy, the Vichy government found their presence an embarrassment. Later, British cargo ships arrived in French Morocco, returning 15,000 French servicemen who had been rescued from Dunkirk. Once the servicemen had disembarked, the ships were interned until they agreed to take away all the british evacuees, who, reflecting tensions generated after the attack, were escorted to the ships at bayonet point minus many of their possessions.
Years later, the germans would demand the remaining french ships be added to the german navy. The french navy scuttled and sank their ships.
The french admiral then sent a telegram to the british:
Admiral Darlan:
"Prime Minister you said to me 'I hope you will never surrender the fleet'. I replied, 'There is no question of doing so'. It seems to me you did not believe my word. The destruction of the fleet at Toulon has just proved that I was right.
Were the British right to sink the fleet? Were the french right to take offense? (A thousand french sailors died during operation catapult.)
Discuss.
(Personally, I think the British acted the best they could, and behaved rationally, and that the French should have blamed the Germans for the situation.)
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