The French Navy in World War II
Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1959. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. XVI, [2], 413, [1] pages. Endpaper maps. Footnotes. Illustrations. Maps. Appendices. Index. This book is the ninth volume in the U.S. Naval Institute's series of historical studies covering World War II naval operations from all sides--enemy as wall as American and Allied. Counter-admiral Gabriel Paul Auphan (November 4, 1894, Alès – April 16, 1982) was a French naval officer who became the State Secretary of the Navy (secrétaire d'État à la Marine) of the Vichy government from April to November 1942. Director of the center of studies and second in command of the École navale at Brest in 1933, he served then in the cabinet of François Piétri, minister of the Navy (1934–1935), then commanded the cruiser Émile-Bertin in squadron in the Atlantic. Capitaine de Vaisseau in October 1936, he received in October 1937 the command of the Jean-d'Arc and the application school of the enseignes de vaisseau with whom he conducted a tour around the world (1937–1938) and a second campaign in the Atlantic and the Pacific. He exercised the functions of military governor of Polynesia (1938–1939). He was accordingly assigned to studies section of the État-Major general. In anticipation of the war which was expected, he was sent to London to coordinate future operations with the Royal Navy. He held his own views regarding the evacuation at Dunkirk or by Operation Catapult. Auphan dedicated his life later to writings: a close figure to général Maxime Weygand or colonel Remy, he published his souvenirs, and defended his views, remaining loyal to the memories of Marshal Philippe Pétain. Prior to this book's original publication in 1959 little had been done to dispel confusion regarding what really happened to the French Navy during World War II. Few people realized the tragic situation of a country forced to capitulate to a traditional enemy. After this humiliating experience, the Navy, in its attempts to preserve France's foreign possessions, and to supply the mother country, found itself torn between the conflicting interests of involved internal and international politics. Forced to scuttle part of the fleet at Toulon, the remainder found themselves viewed with wary suspicion by both the Germans and the Allies. That the French Navy was able to survive at all is a minor miracle. That it so well preserved its unanimity as to return to the fight and participate in the final victory is in itself a tribute to the moral, discipline, and traditions that date back to the crusades. Condition: Good / Fair.
Keywords: Naval Operations, French Navy, Petain, Vichy, Dunkirk, Article 8, Mers-el-Kebir, Free French, Naval Forces, Bizerte, Indochina, Scuttle, Occupied France, Normandy Landings, Provence Landings, Toulon, Liberation, Darlan, Dakar, Evacuation
[Book #84313]
Price: $75.00