Vice Admiral John Cunningham commanded the naval force, while de Gaulle travelled with a limited staff and a modest Free French contingent. Two hired Dutch ships carried his troops, and one doubled as his headquarters. Cunningham never invited the nominal land commander onto his flagship, keeping the naval headquarters visibly separate from the Free French leadership. Keyes and Cunningham appear to have treated de Gaulle's claims cautiously while waiting to see whether he could deliver a political success. His authority rested on representing the continuing spirit of France rather than on an established state apparatus. The command relationship mattered as much as the ships and troops assembled off Dakar.
Notable Point · 6:44-8:43
De Gaulle's precarious place in the expedition
De Gaulle needed Dakar to prove that Free France could attract support and exercise real authority.