René-Emile Godfroy
Encyclopedia
René-Emile Godfroy was a French admiral.
Godfroy was born at Paris
. In June 1940, he commanded French naval forces at Alexandria
, where he negotiated, with British Admiral Andrew Cunningham
, the peaceful internment of his ships.
The French squadron consisted of the battleship Lorraine
, 4 cruisers, 3 destroyers and a submarine. The French emptied their fuel bunkers and removed the firing mechanisms from their guns. Cunningham promised to repatriate the ships' crews. Later, on 17 May 1943, after north Africa had been cleared of Axis forces by Allied forces that included the French, the British Commander-in-Chief, Levant, received a letter from Godfroy, expressing the desire "to join the French Navy in North Africa". Docking of the French warships was at once started at Alexandria.
René-Emile Godfroy died at Fréjus
, southern France, in January 1981, aged 96.
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Godfroy was born at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In June 1940, he commanded French naval forces at Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, where he negotiated, with British Admiral Andrew Cunningham
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
, the peaceful internment of his ships.
The French squadron consisted of the battleship Lorraine
French battleship Lorraine
The Lorraine was a French Navy battleship of the Bretagne class named in honour of the region of Lorraine in France.- Construction :...
, 4 cruisers, 3 destroyers and a submarine. The French emptied their fuel bunkers and removed the firing mechanisms from their guns. Cunningham promised to repatriate the ships' crews. Later, on 17 May 1943, after north Africa had been cleared of Axis forces by Allied forces that included the French, the British Commander-in-Chief, Levant, received a letter from Godfroy, expressing the desire "to join the French Navy in North Africa". Docking of the French warships was at once started at Alexandria.
René-Emile Godfroy died at Fréjus
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
, southern France, in January 1981, aged 96.
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