Description
In July 1940, Winston Churchill made one of the most controversial decisions of the Second World War. Fearing that France's powerful navy might eventually fall under German control, he ordered the Royal Navy to attack the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir. More than 1,200 French sailors were killed, turning former allies into enemies and creating a debate that historians continue to revisit more than eight decades later.
This documentary explores the strategic dilemma behind Operation Catapult, the historical arguments surrounding Churchill's decision, and what it reveals about leadership, deterrence, and maritime power. From the fall of France and Britain's fight for survival to the evolution of aircraft carriers and modern naval strategy, this is the story of a decision whose consequences reached far beyond a single battle—and why its lessons still resonate today.