| Description |
1 videodisc (DVD) (47min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in |
| Summary |
"Reveals a little known fact about the war with Germany. In the summer of 1940 Winston Churchill faced a terrible dilemma. France had just surrendered and only the English Channel stood between the Nazis and Britain. Germany was poised to seize the entire French fleet, one of the biggest in the world. With these ships in his hands, Hitler's threat to invade Britain could become a reality. Churchill had to make a choice. He could either trust the promises of the new French government that they would never hand over their ships to Hitler, or he could make sure that the ships never joined the German navy by destroying them himself. Some call his decision a turning point in the war, others call it a terrible betrayal, and a war crime. This documentary tells the story of what Churchill did next, and why; and how 1,300 French sailors died as a result of what the French still call 'our Pearl Harbour'. In the words of French survivors, some of whom still regard Churchill as a war criminal, and one of the British sailors who opened fire on his former allies, this is the forgotten story of Churchill’s darkest decision - to sink the French fleet." -- ABC website |
| Notes |
Off-air recording of ABC1 broadcast June 24, 2010. Copied under Part VA of the Copyright Act |
| Credits |
Executive producer: Phil Craig ; Written and directed by Richard Bond |
| Performer |
Narrator: Jamie Lee |
| Cast |
Ian Beyts |
| Notes |
Rated: PG |
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DVD. Region unspecified |
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Available for Deakin University staff and students only |
| Subject |
Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, British
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World War, 1939-1945 -- France
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| Author |
Lee, Jamie
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Beyts, Ian
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Bond, Richard
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Craig, Phil
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ABC-TV (Australia)
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