1940 may 10, the Germans invaded Belgium and Holland, and the British and French allied forces went into battle, and the battle of western Europe started. However, the French army, known as the largest power in continental Europe, successfully held off the Germans for four years in World War I. After only 50 days of support in World War II, it gave up its resistance. On the morning of June 22nd, 1940, in the Compiè ne forest on the outskirts of Paris, the contract was signed with the German delegation in Marshal Fauci's special car. . According to the armistice agreement, France handed over most of its territory, all the port bases along the Atlantic coast, important industries and rich agricultural areas to Germany for occupation, while the Vichy government of France only kept the colonies in southern France and French North Africa, which were managed by the Vichy French army and could not collaborate with the enemy. With regard to the French navy, Article 8 of the Agreement directly stipulates that the French fleet should be "concentrated in designated ports and demobilized or disarmed under the supervision of Germany or Italy, except for the part reserved for defending the interests of French colonies and Vichy-controlled territories." Hitler did not directly requisition the French naval forces. On the one hand, he took into account the very strong national feelings of the French people. On the other hand, the colonization of large areas of French North Africa also needed strength to defend it. It is better to let the French guard themselves than to send troops themselves. He is not afraid of Vichy France surrendering to the Allies, because this country holds a lot of weight in his hand, that is, half of France's territory is left to the French for autonomy. According to this agreement, the fourth largest French navy in the world is mainly concentrated in Toulon, Algiers, Oran Port and Casablanca. It's misfortune, also started from here. ...

At this time, the French navy was in a very embarrassing situation. It has lost its enemies and allies before it can exert its fists and feet. The question of where to go is puzzling Admiral Darren, the soul of the French navy. In order to hang the French flag on French warships, save half of France and the last remaining dignity of the French, he chose to obey the Vichy government and station in the southern port of France and the North African colony.

However, the choice of the French navy made British Prime Minister Churchill, whose style was very tough, very dissatisfied. He can't tolerate the threat that the powerful French navy will one day become the British mainland or its maritime transport line. He either owns it or is destroyed. So at his behest, Britain made a military action code-named "Vote Plan" to seize and control the French navy.

The operation was carried out continuously in three areas:

On June 24, the third day after the signing of the Franco-German Armistice Agreement, the British navy raided French warships moored at Portsmouth and Plymouth military ports in England, disarmed them and took over the fleet.

On July 3, in the French West Indies, the local French fleet reached an agreement with the United States and disarmed; If the first two areas are going well, then there is a fierce battle between Oran and Mills Kebil military port on the coast of North Africa, which is the main assembly area of the French navy. The Royal Navy "H Fleet", under the command of vice admiral in Somerville, surrounded the French fleet in the military port, and made a condition: either join Britain against Germany or sink all the ships within six hours.

The arrogant French don't want to surrender to Germany or Britain. They rejected the British terms. The Royal Navy began to attack, and the French army counterattacked under the command of Admiral Jean sur. This is the famous Mills Kebil naval battle. After all, the British came prepared, and the navy and air force were stronger. The French navy suffered heavy losses, including a large number of ships including three battleships. 1, 297 French sailors were killed and 34 1 were injured. What is even more unacceptable to the French is that the Germans who defeated them allowed the French to keep their navy, while the British, an ally who fought side by side a few weeks ago, wanted to exterminate the French and lose face. This incident aroused the public indignation of the French people, which led the Petain government to sever diplomatic relations with Britain. Darren immediately ordered revenge and bombed the British base in Gibraltar.

However, things did not end there. After the implementation of the "Vote Plan", although the strength of the French navy was greatly damaged, the existence of the warship Li Sailiu still made the British navy uneasy. 1940 In September, Britain launched a "threat" action against the French naval fleet in Dakar, North Africa. In the Battle of Dakar, the French fleet stationed in Dakar, with the strong support of battery and cruisers from the mainland, injured three British destroyers and seriously damaged the battleship Resolute. Two French destroyers were burned and stranded, and the battleship Li Sailiu was born. The French army won the battle of Dakar, but Britain also achieved its main goal-the battleship Li Sailiu was built. Britain no longer faces the maritime threat from France.

The battles of Mills Kebil and Dakar also turned Britain and France against their former allies, and the French navy regarded Britain as its old enemy.

After two years of relative silence, the time soon came 1942. The United States and Britain formulated the French "Torch" campaign plan in landing operation in north africa, which was used as a springboard to attack Italy and achieve the purpose of counterattack on the European continent. The special mixed fleets of the two countries landed in Algiers, Oran and Casablanca in French North Africa on June 8 1942+065438 respectively. During the landing, the French navy, which was extremely hostile to the British army, fought back fiercely. In the battle to prevent allied forces from landing, the French army lost 1 cruiser, 3 destroyers, 7 torpedo boats and 10 submarine. Battleship Barr was also hit hard, with 3000 casualties. The turning point of things happened to Dalang again. At this time, Dalang was already the commander-in-chief of the three armies of Vichy government. Out of his extreme hatred for the Germans, which exceeded his hatred for the British, he ordered an immediate ceasefire in all parts of French North Africa and ordered the remaining French fleet in Toulon and Dakar to sail to North Africa quickly. But the French fleet in Toulon didn't want to go to war with the British fleet. They couldn't forgive the crimes committed by the British in Mills, Kebir and Dakar. Admiral Laborde, commander of Toulon Fleet, resolutely rejected Darren's request. The British paid the price for their actions in those years.

At the same time, the news of an immediate ceasefire in various parts of French North Africa reached Germany. The French surrender angered Hitler. He immediately ordered the occupation of all France and planned to seize the French fleet in Toulon. In the face of the German siege, the arrogant French navy refused the assistance of the British army. They are unwilling to surrender to the enemy. Both Germans and Britons have chosen the most tragic way-self-destruction. The French fleet includes three battleships, eight cruisers, 17 destroyers, 16 torpedo boats, 16 submarines, seven communication ships, three reconnaissance ships, and more than 60 transport ships, oil tankers, dredgers and tugboats, all of which sank by themselves. This navy, once the fourth in the world, practiced its oath and defended its honor with tragic self-destruction. The arrogance of the French determines that they will not surrender to the enemy, and the honor of the French navy determines their fate.

Shortly thereafter, Admiral Darren was assassinated, and the last pride of the French navy was the best battleship "Li Sailiu" in France. It reached a settlement with free France at the end of 1942 under the mediation of the United States: the United States bought the renovated Pacific battlefield to fight against Japan and returned it to the French government after the war. This is the last dignity of the French navy.