Why would French sailors continue fighting after metropolitan France was defeated?
Short answerA different government order could send the fleet abroad, building on overseas preparations France had already made before surrender.
NotesThe divergence is framed as the French government and naval leadership making a different decision before the armistice, with sailors following that alternate order. The answer rejects the claim that fighting under such an official decision would itself be a war crime and warns against applying later legal language carelessly. France had already moved gold, supplies, technical material, and some manufacturing resources to Canada. Those preparations created part of the foundation for continued war even though the government and fleet ultimately chose another course. A total German occupation would also impose garrison costs, while departing naval units could evacuate civilians and other personnel.