Churchill's Darkest Decision

How and why Winston Churchill ordered the Royal Navy to attack the French fleet in July 1940.

Documentary War
45 min     7     2009     United Kingdom

Overview

The background to, events of and consequences of the Battle of Mers-El-Kebir on 3 July 1940. In that battle, Royal Navy ships fired on the French Fleet in order to prevent it from falling into German hands. A French battleship was sunk and several other ships damaged. Nearly 1,300 French sailors were killed.

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