EPISODE · May 24, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Sinking of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir
from The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In July 1940, just weeks after France's armistice with Germany, the British Royal Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in Algeria, killing nearly 1,300 French sailors. Lucas and Luna explore the tragic decision by Winston Churchill to neutralize the French navy, the tense negotiations at Oran, and the lasting bitterness between former allies. They discuss Admiral Marcel Gensoul's dilemma, the destruction of the battleship Bretagne, and how the attack shaped the relationship between Free France and Britain. This episode reveals a painful chapter of World War II that tested the limits of alliance and sovereignty. #MersElKébir #FrenchNavy #OperationCatapult #WinstonChurchill #MarcelGensoul #Bretagne #Strasbourg #Richelieu #FrancoBritishRelations #WorldWarII #Armistice1940 #VichyFrance #RoyalNavy #Oran #Algeria #NavalHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
Embed this episode
Ready to play
The Sinking of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.