French officers at Mers-el-Kebir struggled to understand the ultimatum because they assumed the wider war was effectively ending. From their perspective, Britain would soon accept German terms and there was little reason to sacrifice the fleet over temporary demands. Mussolini's decision to enter the war in June 1940 reflected a related fear that peace would arrive before Italy could claim rewards, despite Italian forces being unprepared. Britain continuing the war overturned both calculations. Diplomatic misjudgment produced hurried alliance choices and naval confrontation at the start of a much longer global conflict.
Notable Point · 2:46:17-2:47:45
Why French and Italian leaders expected Britain to stop fighting in 1940
French authorities at Mers-el-Kebir and Mussolini both acted on the assumption that France's defeat would soon force Britain to make peace.