308 - Mers El-Kébir: The British Attack on the French Navy
About this episode
This episode discusses the British attack on the French Navy at Mers el Kébir during World War II, featuring insights from guest Edward Abel Smith.
In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone. France had fallen, invasion seemed possible, and Winston Churchill faced a grave question: what should be done about the powerful French fleet? Fearing it might fall under German control, Britain launched Operation Catapult. At Mers el Kébir on 3 July 1940, the Royal Navy opened fire on its former ally, killing nearly 1,300 French sailors in one of the war's most painful and controversial decisions. For this episode, I am joined by Edward Abel Smith , author of ' A Hateful Decision ', which tells the full story of this dramatic moment through new research and eyewitness accounts.
More episodes of The WW2 Podcast
- 314 - The Nazi Ghost Train
- 313 - 1942: Hitler's Gamble for Victory
- 312- Normandy 1944: Operation Martlet
- 311 - Patton, 1945
- 310 - Great Escapism at Stalag Luft III
- 309 - SOE Special Duties Flights
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