ABSTRACT

On 3 July 1940, soon after the collapse of the French front and France's request for an armistice, a reluctant Royal Navy commander opened fire on the French Navy squadron at Mers-el-Kebir. Some 1,300 French sailors lost their lives.The late David Brown's detailed account finally conveys an objective understanding of the course of events that led u

chapter 2|11 pages

The Phoney War

chapter 3|6 pages

The Mediterranean, 27 March–27 May 1940

chapter 4|9 pages

Dunkirk to Bordeaux, 4–15 June

chapter 5|7 pages

Political Collapse, 16 June

chapter 6|9 pages

Pétain’s First Day, 17 June

chapter 7|8 pages

Last Meeting of the Admirals, 18 June

chapter 9|6 pages

The Other Side of the Hill, 17–21 June

chapter 10|10 pages

The Armistice Terms, 22 June

chapter 11|17 pages

23 June

chapter 12|13 pages

24 June

chapter 13|9 pages

The Armistice, 25 June

chapter 14|10 pages

The Cruise of the Richelieu, 25–26 June

chapter 15|8 pages

27 June

chapter 16|12 pages

28 June

chapter 17|7 pages

29 June

chapter 18|7 pages

30 June

chapter 19|8 pages

1 July

chapter 20|11 pages

Orders for Operation ‘Catapult’, 2 July

chapter 21|16 pages

Mers-el-Kébir: The Parley, 3 July

chapter 22|8 pages

The Bombardment of Mers-el-Kébir, 3 July