Here's Why the French Scuttled Their Fleet in 1942

The scuttling of the French fleet on Nov 27th, 1942 was the direct result of the allied landing in North Africa some weeks before (Nov 5). First of all, the event had led the German troops to invade the southern zone hitherto unoccupied. This was in violation of the armistice signed in June 1940 at Rethondes and it raised the question of the future of the fleet moored in the Toulon roadstead since the end of hostilities with Germany.