The Dunkirk is a new generation of capital ships designed by the French Navy in 1926 within the tonnage stipulated in the Washington Naval Treaty, this kind of battleship has a full load displacement of more than 35,000 tons, but it only has a 330 mm main gun, and almost a lot of weight is added to the defense.

At the same time, its maximum speed reached almost 30 knots.

This high-speed, defense-heavy design was aimed at the imaginary enemy of Germany's "Deutsche class armored ships" and the cruisers that were being developed and built by the navies of the great powers at the time. It can be said that this kind of battleship is in line with the combat characteristics of battlecruisers, but the French Navy is still called battleships.

This battleship, which was only completed in 37 years, was the absolute main French warship, and at this time, it was anchored in the port of Mürskebiel, and was the flagship of the French garrison in North Africa.

It was said that it was late at night, when one was asleep, but on this flagship, the commander of the French Navy's detachment, Admiral Marcel-Bruno Jeansur, did not feel sleepy.

He listened to reports from his men that British Admiral Holland wanted to step on the warship and have a meeting with Admiral Jean Soor.

Of course, Sur knew what his old friend meant by coming, but he couldn't respond for a long time, and he still had another order in his hand.

Admiral Darlan ordered that all commanders of the French naval fleet were not to have any contact with the British.

After pondering for a while, he said, "Let Colonel Holland go back, I don't have time to see him." ”

At this time, the destroyer on which Colonel Holland was riding was almost docked next to his battleship.

"General Jean Suhr, don't want to see me?" On the destroyer here, Colonel Holland was about to disembark and step on the other side's ship, but he heard such an answer.

I don't want to see myself! In this case, Colonel Holland did not expect that, originally, he had a lot of exhortations, hoping that Admiral Soulr could lead the fleet and defect to the British Navy, but unfortunately, now, he could not see General Soul, so he could not say anything more.

What to do?

After thinking about it, Colonel Holland took out a document from his briefcase: "Please pass this document to General Jeansur and tell him that this meeting of ours is very important and related to the fate of the French Navy." ”

This is a carefully worded letter from the Admiralty in London, sent by His Majesty the King himself.

"A few days ago, Prime Minister Reynaud had promised to send all the warships to British ports, and now, at a cabinet meeting, a decision has been made: the French fleet should join the British navy, or it will sink on its own."

When he saw this, General Sur already felt a spark in front of his eyes, why should the fate of the French Navy be decided by the British cabinet meeting? What do the British think of themselves? Seen as their own?

These abominable Britons!

In later generations, after an analysis of the events that took place in the port of Mirskbiel, some military observers believed that the British were too anxious and had too much appetite.

If the British Navy had not annexed the French Navy, but had fought in concert with the French Navy, then the French might have accepted it.

However, in the subconscious of the British, they have always regarded the French Navy as their meat, which is the reason why the tragedy finally broke out, after all, the French are also arrogant.

Rubbing his eyes, he told General Sur to keep looking.

"While the present French Government may consider that the terms of their armistice with Germany and Italy are in harmony with these commitments, His Majesty's Government believes, from our past experience, that Germany and Italy will seize the French fleet and use it against Great Britain and its allies as it thinks fit."

"We have hitherto been your comrades-in-arms, and we cannot sit idly by and watch your good ships fall into the hands of enemy Germany or Italy. We are determined to fight to the end, and if we prevail — and we think we can do so — we must never forget that France was our ally, that our interests are those of France, and that our common enemy is Germany. If we prevail, we solemnly declare that we must restore the glory and territory of France. ”

Seeing this, General Sur's hands were already tightly clasped together, and the British, who are still talking these nonsense!

Although the ordinary people in the lower classes did not know it, it was clear to General Soul, that the British did not hesitate to let the French army as bait in order to withdraw their expeditionary force! Let the French army go to Dunkirk, while the British are preparing for a breakthrough in the port of Calais!

Friends are used for betrayal, and at critical times, they just step on the corpse of their friends and climb out of the trap, which is what the British have always done!

Will they also help restore the glory and territory of France? If there really is such a day, then France, I am afraid, will also become a vassal of Britain!

He resisted the urge to shred the letter and continued to look down.

"To this end, we have to make sure that the most elite ships of the French Navy are not used by the enemy against us. Therefore, the French fleet at Mears-Biel had to act according to one of the following schemes: "

1. Sail with us and continue to fight for victory in the war against Germany and Italy.

2. Lay off the crew and sail to the British port under our supervision. Crews that have been made redundant should be repatriated as soon as possible.

3. Then cut off the crew, and take with us to a French port in the West Indies, such as the Martinique Islands, where the ships will be disarmed at our request, or handed over to the United States for safekeeping, until the end of the war, in which case the crew may be repatriated.

Almost every method here is formulated with a high-minded attitude, and you French fleet must do it!

Moreover, seeing the following, General Sur was even more angry.

"If you reject these fair and reasonable proposals, then, with my deepest apologies, I ask you to scuttle your ship within six hours. Finally, if you fail to do what is said above, then I am compelled to use all necessary force to prevent your ships from falling into the hands of Germany or Italy, by order of His Majesty's Government. ”

"Fair and reasonable, these Brits, do you still think that such conditions are fair and reasonable?" General Jean Sur said to himself, "Now, even if I don't see my old friend, I know what his attitude will be. ”

Is it still necessary to meet?

"General, how are we going to reply to the British?" On General Soul's side, the captain of the Dunkirk asked.

How do you reply? Let General Soul's eyes, looking at the sea in the distance, say: "Send a telegram back to France, and ask Marshal Pétain, General Darlan, for instructions." ”