Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
On November 27, 1942, the pride of the French Navy vanished not from an enemy attack, but by its own hand. Facing an incoming Nazi invasion during Operation Lila, French Admirals at Toulon executed a desperate, secret order to scuttle over 85 warships, including the battleship Strasbourg. This premium documentary uncovers the political web of the Vichy regime, the agonizing choices of commanders caught between Hitler and the Allies, and the devastating firsthand testimonies of the sailors ordered to destroy their own fleet. This is the complete story of the largest naval self-destruction in history.
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On November 27, 1942, the pride of the French Navy vanished not from an enemy attack, but by its own hand. Facing an incoming Nazi invasion during Operation Lila, French Admirals at Toulon executed a desperate, secret order to scuttle over 85 warships, including the battleship Strasbourg. This premium documentary uncovers the political web of the Vichy regime, the agonizing choices of commanders caught between Hitler and the Allies, and the devastating firsthand testimonies of the sailors ordered to destroy their own fleet. This is the complete story of the largest naval self-destruction in history.
You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.
Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: bit.ly/4pyExyn
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries, please contact owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com
