Gabon: The Battle of Mayumba, a little-known episode of Free France's rallying in 1940
According to a Gabonese historian cited by RFI, the confrontation that took place in Mayumba at the beginning of World War II would have constituted General de Gaulle's first victory over forces loyal to Marshal Pétain.
A little-known episode in the history of Free France unfolded in Gabon, a former French colony, at the beginning of World War II, according to an RFI report.
Following General de Gaulle's appeal of June 18, 1940, broadcast from London, several French colonies in Africa chose to rally to Free France. Gabon, however, remained under the control of authorities loyal to Marshal Pétain, head of the Vichy regime, RFI reports.
Faced with this refusal to rally, a battle broke out in Mayumba, a port city in southern Gabon. According to a Gabonese historian interviewed by RFI, this confrontation would represent General de Gaulle's first victory over Marshal Pétain's forces.
This episode, still largely unknown to the general public, illustrates the tensions that divided the French colonial empire at the moment of the split between Free France and the Vichy regime.
Sources
- Gabon: À Mayumba, la première victoire du général De Gaulle sur le maréchal Pétain en 1940 — RFI — Français
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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