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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Mers el Kebir
From: Jan Kalivoda
Date: 2004 Sep 22, 13:24 +0200
From: Jan Kalivoda
Date: 2004 Sep 22, 13:24 +0200
Jared, I supposed that there was no use proceeding in this thread after the "amen" by Henry Halboth and my responsory. But if you wish, I add a bit as the last Gospel of a former Catholic mass: As for German and Hitler's promises - you repeat my own words exactly, Jared. Please, read them once more. As for French promises - although they were doubted in the summer 1940 and the (maybe inevitable) tragedy in Mers el Kebir followed, they were fully kept even after MeK. Germans weren't ever allowed to use any French ship against Allies throughout the war. The core of the French Navy was confined in the harbour Toulon in the Mediterranean according the truce treaty between Germany and France from 1940. When Germans broke the treaty and tried to seize the French fleet on Nov 27, 1942, French crews scuttled 2 battle ships, 4 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 21 destroyers and 14 submarines during two hours. A rare deed of discipline, prepareness and resolution, although not much known and appraised today. Only some three destroyers were lifted from the bottom by Germans afterwards. So act gentlemen, being in the war and overcome. Isn't it, Robert :) As for my promises - I end my activity in this thread, boy scout's word. Jan Kalivoda