Marcel-Bruno Gensoul
Encyclopedia
Marcel-Bruno Gensoul was a French admiral who commanded the Force de Raid
, based at Brest
until the French surrender in 1940. At that time, the force was transferred to Mers El Kébir in French North Africa.
Gensoul was subsequently involved in unsuccessful negotiations with the British admiral, James Somerville
, which culminated in the bombardment and destruction of the French Fleet on July 3, 1940. Gensoul never commented on these events.
Force de Raid
The Force de Raid was a French naval unit based at Brest until 1940. It included some of the most modern capital ships of its day organised into two squadrons, commanded at the outbreak of World War II by Vice Amiral Marcel Gensoul...
, based at Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
until the French surrender in 1940. At that time, the force was transferred to Mers El Kébir in French North Africa.
Gensoul was subsequently involved in unsuccessful negotiations with the British admiral, James Somerville
James Somerville
Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville GCB, GBE, DSO was one of the most famous British Admirals of World War II.-Early career:...
, which culminated in the bombardment and destruction of the French Fleet on July 3, 1940. Gensoul never commented on these events.