Re: French aircraft carrier Bearn
Posted: 14 Dec 2009, 22:43
Hi Vuurdraak,
I believe the former. If the French Navy personnel was largely "pro-German", why didn't they give their ships to the Nazis or, much better, joined the German service all together?
As a matter of fact, the French Navy wasn't pro-German; she was just pro-French Navy and stupid enough to believe that the British or USA were going to take the "French Empire" from her (yes, the Navy thought it was her personal property). She distrusted the Germans, Italians, anyone else, for the very same reason. Nationalists believing in outdated models doesn't make good traitors for another Power. The USA and British higher authorities were sufficiently aware of the political reality for entrusting Darlan with official recognition from November 1942. The move was easy, they only had to make it clear for Darlan they were not going to take any colony from France. Beside, many French Navy ships escorted convoys daily up to the end of the war.
S~
Olivier
Is it your personal feeling or something documented?Vuurdraak wrote:Besides politics, there are some other questions: the Allies had trouble trusting French navy personnel, since there were many pro-German elements to be found there-> the risk of having a spy/traitor in a vessel escorting convoys was not deemed a good idea.
I believe the former. If the French Navy personnel was largely "pro-German", why didn't they give their ships to the Nazis or, much better, joined the German service all together?
As a matter of fact, the French Navy wasn't pro-German; she was just pro-French Navy and stupid enough to believe that the British or USA were going to take the "French Empire" from her (yes, the Navy thought it was her personal property). She distrusted the Germans, Italians, anyone else, for the very same reason. Nationalists believing in outdated models doesn't make good traitors for another Power. The USA and British higher authorities were sufficiently aware of the political reality for entrusting Darlan with official recognition from November 1942. The move was easy, they only had to make it clear for Darlan they were not going to take any colony from France. Beside, many French Navy ships escorted convoys daily up to the end of the war.
S~
Olivier