Operation Catapult: Why Did The British Blow Up The French Navy During WWII?

Part 1: Prelude It was a sunny afternoon on July 3, 1940, when the French fleet at Mers el Kebir, a naval base in Algeria, saw the ominous shape of the British warships on the horizon. The French sailors felt a chill run down their spines as they realized that the British fleet was not there to exchange pleasantries.

The French navy at Mers-El-Kebir, Jul 2nd, 1940. The day before the attack. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The French and British had been allies since the start of World War II, but after the fall of France in June 1940, the relationship had turned sour. The French government had signed an armistice with Germany, leaving Britain as the last remaining power in Europe fighting against the Nazi regime. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, had become increasingly concerned that the French fleet could fall into German hands and be used against the Royal Navy. He believed that the only way to prevent this was to force the French to join the Allied cause or neutralize their fleet.

Churchill had given clear orders to Admiral James Somerville, commander of the British fleet at Gibraltar, to take action if necessary. Somerville had been instructed to offer the French an ultimatum: either join the Allied cause or disarm their fleet. If the French refused, the British were authorized to use force to prevent the French ships from falling into German hands. The French sailors at Mers el Kebir were aware of the ultimatum but they believed that the British would not attack their former allies. After all, the French had lost more men than the British in the war so far, and they had fought bravely alongside the British in battles such as Dunkirk.

But the British had a different perspective. They saw the French as unreliable and potentially treacherous. They believed that the French had capitulated too easily to the Germans and that their navy could not be trusted. Churchill was convinced that the only way to guarantee British security was to eliminate the French fleet.

Admiral Cedric Swinton Holland on his way to participate in the negotiations with the French, at 17.30. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

As the British ships approached, the French Admiral, Marcel-Bruno Gensoul, sent out a message asking for clarification. Somerville responded with a final ultimatum, giving the French just 30 minutes to make a decision. Gensoul asked for more time but Somerville refused. He ordered his ships to open fire.

The French sailors were caught off guard as the British shells rained down on them. The sound of explosions filled the air as ships were hit and set ablaze. The French fought back as best they could, but they were outmatched by the superior firepower of the British. The battle lasted for just over an hour before the French fleet was crippled.

The British had achieved their objective. The French had lost 1,297 men and five ships, including the battleship Bretagne, which exploded with the loss of 977 men. The British had suffered no casualties.

The French dreadnought battleship Bretagne was hit four times and exploded, killing the majority of her crew - over 1000 souls. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Sketch of the French Bretagne class battleships Brassey's Naval Annual 1915. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

The world was shocked by the news of the attack on Mers el Kebir. The French were outraged at what they saw as a betrayal by their former ally. The attack had also damaged relations between the British and Americans, who saw it as an act of aggression against a neutral power. The Germans were delighted by the outcome, as it weakened the Allied cause and gave them hope that they could defeat Britain.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Churchill defended his decision to attack the French fleet, saying that it was a necessary measure to protect British interests. He argued that the French had been given a clear choice and that they had refused to make a decision. The attack on Mers el Kebir had been a tragic but necessary action, he said.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

But for the French, the attack was a devastating blow. They saw it as a violation of their trust and a betrayal of the alliance they had built with the British. The loss of the fleet was a huge blow to French pride and a significant strategic loss. It left the French Navy weakened and exposed, and it took years for France to rebuild its naval capabilities.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack on Mers el Kebir marked a turning point in the relationship between France and Britain. It shattered the goodwill that had existed between the two countries and marked the end of the alliance that had been so critical in the early stages of the war.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

In the months that followed, the relationship between the two countries continued to deteriorate. The Vichy government in France, which had signed the armistice with Germany, saw the attack on Mers el Kebir as proof that the British could not be trusted. They cut off diplomatic relations with Britain and joined forces with the Germans.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack on Mers el Kebir was a controversial and tragic event in the history of World War II. It was a betrayal of trust and an act of aggression that had far-reaching consequences for the Allied cause. While Churchill defended his decision as a necessary measure to protect British interests, the attack had a devastating impact on the French and marked the end of a once-strong alliance.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Part 2: Fallout and Controversy Operation Catapult and the attack on Mers el Kebir had far-reaching consequences for the course of World War II. It had a significant impact on the relationship between France and Britain, and it sparked debates about the ethics of warfare and the obligations of allies.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the French government was outraged and vowed revenge. The Vichy regime, which had come to power after the armistice with Germany, cut off diplomatic relations with Britain and joined forces with the Germans. The French also launched a series of attacks on British targets, including an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the British fleet at Alexandria.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack on Mers el Kebir also had a significant impact on the war in North Africa. With the French Navy weakened and unable to protect its shipping lanes, the Germans were able to gain a foothold in North Africa. They quickly seized control of Tunisia and established a presence in Algeria and Morocco.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack sparked controversy and debate about the ethics of warfare and the obligations of allies. Many people questioned whether it was morally right for the British to attack their former allies without warning. Some argued that the French sailors were just following orders and that they should not have been punished for the decisions of their government.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Others defended the British action, arguing that it was necessary to protect British interests and prevent the French fleet from falling into German hands. They pointed out that the French had been given a clear choice and that they had refused to join the Allied cause or disarm their fleet.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack on Mers el Kebir also raised questions about the nature of alliances and the obligations that come with them. Many people were shocked that the British had attacked their former allies, and they wondered whether this was a sign that Britain was willing to abandon any of its allies in the pursuit of its own interests.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Part 3: Legacy and Impact In the short term, the attack on Mers el Kebir had a devastating impact on the relationship between France and Britain. However, the attack on Mers el Kebir did not have a significant impact on the final outcome of the war. The Germans were still able to make gains in North Africa, but they were eventually defeated by the Allied forces. The attack did, however, raise questions about the nature of alliances and the obligations that come with them.

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The attack at Mers-El-Kebir Jul 3rd, 1940. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The debate about the ethics of warfare and the obligations of allies continued long after the attack on Mers el Kebir. The Nuremberg Trials, which took place after the war, established the principle that individuals can be held responsible for their actions in war, even if they are following orders. This principle has been enshrined in international law and has had a significant impact on the present conduct of warfare.

Funeral for the French sailors. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

The legacy of the attack on Mers el Kebir is complex and multifaceted. It marked the end of the alliance between France and Britain and raised questions about the ethics of warfare and the obligations of allies. It also had significant consequences for the course of the war and the post-war settlement.

French Admiral Gensoul at the funeral. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).

Cemetery in Mers-El-Kebir. (Source: Peter Deleuran - private collection).