Churchill's Darkest Decision
Churchill's Darkest Decision
7.0 Churchill's Darkest Decision
2009, 45 m
Documentary, War
How and why Winston Churchill ordered the Royal Navy to attack the French fleet in July 1940.
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.