If only they had made a run for it. They would have been of enormous help to the British Mediterranean Fleet, and the total loss at sea of all the ships would have left the situation as it wound up being.
Does history record the name of the French officer? He deserves his own FBF. Those ships could have been muchlee used by the Brits in the Med, and I'm sure the aerial photos by the RAF the day after caused much angst in London. But you have to admit the French did make nice looking ships. BZ to Laborde.
Five submarines and one ship, a coal fired buoy tender, successfully escaped. Bravo Zulu to the initiative of their commanding officers. The tender had to take on fuel before attempting the escape. Captain Pierre' had some big brass ones.
(text can be cut and pasted into Google Translate if your French is rusty)
After the war, Admiral de Laborde would be tried, convicted and sentenced to death for scuttling the fleet rather than attempting a breakout. His sentence would be commuted to 5 years of imprisonment. Good thing he also wasn't also convicted of trespassing on Versailles grounds. That would have added another 25 years to his imprisonment. (/sarc for last two sentences)
Great story, wonderful use of germaness against the germans. I do not agree, however, with your characterization of german martial prowess, even as I do with your assessment of the french. And especially not of the Waffen SS at that point in the war, nor do I think they were the juggernaut they were later claimec to be, especially by people who's own lackluster performance was explained away by, "The Waffen SS! If only we'd been fighting the Heer!"
WWII was the first war where the vanquished were encouraged to write the history of the war. And wow, did the german generals engage in some brilliant apologetics, aided by fanbois like Leddel-Hart, Fuller, and DePuy, among others. Subsequent schoalrship has taken quite a bit of the shine off that glossy dross.
“Do you have your paperwork?” Beautiful. In our parlance, the Controlled Industrial Area. Some day, remind me to tell you the story of the night in which I bulled my way into the holy-of-holies inner area where PHNSY was decommissioning a submarine’s reactor. All without getting shot by the Marine guard.
You'd have to be heartless not to pity the average French sailor in WWII when you couple this sad tale with the tragic events at Mers-el-Kébir in 1940.
If only they had made a run for it. They would have been of enormous help to the British Mediterranean Fleet, and the total loss at sea of all the ships would have left the situation as it wound up being.
Does history record the name of the French officer? He deserves his own FBF. Those ships could have been muchlee used by the Brits in the Med, and I'm sure the aerial photos by the RAF the day after caused much angst in London. But you have to admit the French did make nice looking ships. BZ to Laborde.
> 1 school ship (scuttled)
The children's cheers must have been deafening.
Thanks for the historical refresher. It seems odd to have the fleet at the pier with all the other things happening.
Vive la France!
Deeper thoughts to follow.
Five submarines and one ship, a coal fired buoy tender, successfully escaped. Bravo Zulu to the initiative of their commanding officers. The tender had to take on fuel before attempting the escape. Captain Pierre' had some big brass ones.
http://www.meritemaritime-var.fr/IMG/pdf/evasion%20leonor%20fresnel.pdf
(text can be cut and pasted into Google Translate if your French is rusty)
After the war, Admiral de Laborde would be tried, convicted and sentenced to death for scuttling the fleet rather than attempting a breakout. His sentence would be commuted to 5 years of imprisonment. Good thing he also wasn't also convicted of trespassing on Versailles grounds. That would have added another 25 years to his imprisonment. (/sarc for last two sentences)
https://www.gettyimages.fr/detail/photo-d%27actualit%C3%A9/de-laborde-was-accused-of-purposely-sinking-the-photo-dactualit%C3%A9/106504721
Great story, wonderful use of germaness against the germans. I do not agree, however, with your characterization of german martial prowess, even as I do with your assessment of the french. And especially not of the Waffen SS at that point in the war, nor do I think they were the juggernaut they were later claimec to be, especially by people who's own lackluster performance was explained away by, "The Waffen SS! If only we'd been fighting the Heer!"
WWII was the first war where the vanquished were encouraged to write the history of the war. And wow, did the german generals engage in some brilliant apologetics, aided by fanbois like Leddel-Hart, Fuller, and DePuy, among others. Subsequent schoalrship has taken quite a bit of the shine off that glossy dross.
“Do you have your paperwork?” Beautiful. In our parlance, the Controlled Industrial Area. Some day, remind me to tell you the story of the night in which I bulled my way into the holy-of-holies inner area where PHNSY was decommissioning a submarine’s reactor. All without getting shot by the Marine guard.
Casablanca comes to mind.
Something beautiful in the French episode of FBF taking the form of an especially creative surrender
When I was 6th Fleet Liaison in Toulon, I passed thru that gate many times. Always had my papers😎
Fascinating tidbit of history... thank you!
You'd have to be heartless not to pity the average French sailor in WWII when you couple this sad tale with the tragic events at Mers-el-Kébir in 1940.
For sale: one French navy fleet, scuttled in place, not a shot fired.
It appears the good Admiral hated the British and Germans equally.
Found this documentary on one of the subs that escaped and its role later in Corsica. Auto-translate subtitles work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_W5dn6E0GQ