Aerial View of French Fleet in Toulon Harbor Before Scuttling (November 1942), Showing Battleship "Strasbourg" and Other Warships.

This photograph provides an aerial view of Toulon harbor, captured before the German entry into unoccupied France, showing parts of the French Fleet. The composition emphasizes the industrial infrastructure, including docks, ships, storage tanks, and rail yards. Lettered annotations (A-F) indicate specific elements: A. The battleship "Strasbourg"; B. & B.1. 8-inch cruisers; C. 6 inch cruisers; D. & D.1. Contre-Torpilleurs (a larger class of destroyer); E. Destroyers; and F. Submarines. The historical context explains that the image, issued in November 1942 (BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH NO C. 3238 XC.), documents the scuttling of the French Fleet in Toulon. Admiral De Laborde gave the order to scuttle the 73 warships, including the 23,000-ton battleships "Strasbourg" and "Dunkerque," when Hitler sent armored columns into the port defense zone. Skippers and demolition squads went down with their ships.