In this assessment, the French Navy's removal from Allied service was the war's largest cumulative naval loss of ships and personnel in a single event. Ships could leave the Allied balance without being sunk, and some were subsequently attacked by Britain. One explanation for Mers-el-Kébir centres on distrust of the French government and Hitler's promises. Confidence in French naval honour did not remove the fear that sailors would obey government orders placing the ships at Axis disposal. The prospect of adding the fleet to Axis strength made its loss as an ally more serious still.
Chapter · 26:53-29:33
The Allied loss of the fleet and Mers-el-Kébir
Britain feared the French fleet might be handed over after the armistice, amid the loss of ships and trained crews to the Allied cause.