Attack on Mers-el-Kébir

After the fall of France in 1940, the British War Cabinet was concerned that the Germans could gain control over the French Navy under the Vichy government. Churchill ordered that the Marine Nationale should either join with the Royal Navy or face neutralisation to prevent their ships falling into Axis hands. This lead to the Attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940.