Capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the American Theatre of World War II | |||||||
Surcouf, the lead vessel of the flotilla | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Free France | Vichy France | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
| Unknown number of gendarmes from the gendarmerie | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None | None |
The capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon was the successful takeover of the islands of
Prelude
Following the armistice of 22 June 1940, the administration of the islands had been under the control of the Vichy government, represented by the administrator Gilbert de Bournat.[1] The presence of Vichy-administered islands off the coast of Canada caused significant concerns for its government. The Canadian government considered the possibility that the Axis might use Saint Pierre and Miquelon as a base of operations. The colony's proximity to Canada and Newfoundland could offer German submariners an excellent position to re-supply and coordinate attacks upon Allied convoys. This was helped by the fact that the islands were able to communicate to the French mainland by means of wireless communication and transatlantic cables. It was feared that the islands' authorities could transmit vital information to Vichy France and inform German submarine crews about meteorological conditions, the movements of Allied warships and the progression of convoys. There was also concern that local fishery products could be sent to Germany through mainland France and, in turn, contribute to the Axis war effort.[2]
Even before the armistice, the government of Newfoundland called for an invasion of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. After consultations with the
During this time, Charles de Gaulle sent Admiral Émile Muselier to investigate the possibility of invading the islands.[3] Despite continued objections from the United States, de Gaulle ordered the capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.[4]
Capture
On 23 December 1941, a French flotilla consisting of the submarine Surcouf and three corvettes, Mimosa, Aconit and Alysse, carrying 230 men sailed from Halifax under the pretext of a training mission. Acting against the orders of Canadian Rear Admiral Leonard W. Murray, at 3 am on 24 December 1941, the flotilla arrived off the port of Saint-Pierre and disembarked 230 armed sailors. After meeting no resistance, Free French forces captured the islands in only 20 minutes.[2]
Aftermath
After the arrest of Governor de Bournat, the Free French authorities organized a
References
Source
- Aron, Robert (1964). Grands dossiers de l'histoire contemporaine. Paris: CAL (Club des amis du livre).