WW2 Original ACME Telephoto French Destroyers Scuttled at Toulon 6 x 9 Photo for Sale

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WW2 Original ACME Telephoto French Destroyers Scuttled at Toulon 6 x 9 Photo For Sale

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WW2 Original ACME Telephoto French Destroyers Scuttled at Toulon 6 x 9 Photo:
$34.95

An original WW2 period photo of the famous scuttling of the French Fleet in Toulon. The scuttling was orchestrated by Vichy France on 27 November 1942 to prevent Nazi German forces from taking it over. The Allied invasion of North Africa had provoked the Germans into invading the zone libre, neutral according to the Armistice of 22 June 1940. The Vichy Secretary of the Navy, Admiral François Darlan, defected to the Allies, who were gaining increasing support from servicemen and civilians. His replacement, Admiral Gabriel Auphan, guessed correctly that the Germans were aiming to seize the large fleet at Toulon, and ordered them to be scuttled.The Germans began Operation Anton but the French naval crews used deceit to delay them until the scuttling was complete. Anton was judged a failure, with the capture of 39 small ships, while the French destroyed 77 vessels; several submarines escaped to French North Africa. It marked the end of Vichy France as a credible naval power. Complete with the original caption for use by the new services in New York and elsewhere.

Text of the attached caption below:

Acme telephoto New York Bureau

French destroyers scuttled by the French at Toulon
Washington DC--Two French Destroyers, only Bridges and mast visible, lay side-by-side in Toulon Harbor, France after they were scuttled by patriotic French forces to prevent their seizure by the Germans.
Credit line official US Signal corps radio telephoto from Acme telephoto 9 / 3 / 44 (GLQ)

The photo measures 9 x 6 inches.

H20