Talk:Surcouf (N N 3)

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Quote "Another rumor associated with this event is that, on 1 January 1942, an American destroyer was sent to Saint-Pierre to restore it to Vichy control".That doesn't make any sense, or does it? -- 790 22:50, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

I rewrote that paragraph. Does it make sense now? ➥the Epopt 14:32, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm afraid it doesn't, because Vichy France was allied with Nazi Germany. I don't see why U.S. troops should have wanted them to regain control of anything. From whom, anyway? The Germans? But they invaded Vichy France not before November 1942. Also, there's a whole lot of Saint-Pierres in France... which one is this about? -- 790 16:40, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

The US might have wanted to return Saint-Pierre to Vichy control to avoid alienating Vichy France. Vichy France was neutral (not "allied with Nazi Germany"), as were the USA. Rama 17:56, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

The US wasn't neutral in 1942, as Germany declared war to the USA on December 12, 1941. British Forces had attacked the Vichy navy even back in 1940. -- 790 18:07, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

And although the US diplomatically recognized Vichy France in the beginning, it can hardly be called neutral, as it cooperated with Germany and imposed Nazi-like laws against Jews, etc. -- 790 18:11, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Oh, sorry, I misread the date. The USA were at war at the time.

Vichy France was technically at war with Germany, and practically neutral. Its internal affairs are distinct from its international stance. The aggression of the British navy is yet another matter : it was widely regarded as despicable (including by British officers), yet did not trigger a state of war between France and the UK ; in any case, this would have had nothing to do with the USA. Rama 18:13, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

True; but back to my original question: exactly which town named Saint-Pierre is meant here, and under the control of whom was it on January 1, 1942? -- 790 19:32, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Ah, sorry ! It is this one. They were at first loyal to Vichy, and fell to the Free French after the raid by the Surcouf. They remained with the Free French until the end of the war. Rama 20:13, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

I am sorry, I didn't read properly. I read up on the US stance towards Vichy France, and I am still surprised. Thanks for your efforts. -- 790 21:26, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

You are quite welcome. Vichy France is interesting to study, there were dozens of different political tendencies, and lots of people trying to play their pet faction against the others, often resulting in counter-intuitive results. For instance, the Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon is usually presented as having the purpose of denying the ships to the Germans, but it was in fact prepared with the British in mind.... go figure ! Rama 00:16, 21 November 2006 (UTC)