Over a thousand French sailors dead, a battleship lost, and the French navy in tatters. The culprits? Not the Germans, but the British.
After the surrender of France, Britain faced a terrifying possibility: that the powerful French fleet would fall into Nazi hands. In this episode, we explore Operation Catapult - Winston Churchill’s controversial decision to neutralise his former ally’s navy, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand French sailors. Was this a grim necessity to level the playing field, or an unforgivable betrayal?
Joining us to unpack this crucial moment is Edward Abel Smith, author of \"A Hateful Decision\".
Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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