The scuttling of the French navy's vessels at Toulon represents a critical moment during World War II, occurring as the threat of Nazi occupation loomed heavily over France. After the armistice in 1940, the French military found itself in a precarious position, particularly following the German invasion of the unoccupied southern zone of France in November 1942. Faced with the prospect of surrendering their fleet—a powerful symbol of French naval power—to the Nazis, Admiral Jean de Laborde and other French leaders made the difficult decision to scuttle their ships rather than allow them to be used against the Allies. On the morning of November 27, French sailors set about their tasks, leading to the sinking of over 70 vessels, including battleships, cruisers, and submarines. This act was both a tactical maneuver and a testament to French pride in preserving their national assets from enemy capture. The operations were carried out relatively swiftly, with crews working collectively to ensure that the ships were irreparably damaged.