Operation Attila (World War II)

During World War II, Operation Attila was a plan for the German occupation of Vichy France. It was drawn up in 1940 in case the French rejoined the Allies or of an Allied threat to the south of France.

An important aspect was the capture of the French Navy. The original plan was never executed, but a version (Case Anton), which included Italian forces, was executed on 11 November 1942 in response to the Operation Torch landings in North Africa.

The attempt to capture the French fleet, Operation Lila, failed due to the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon, on orders of Admiral Jean de Laborde, to prevent its capture. As a result of the action, the Germans and Italians failed to gain the use of three battleships, seven cruisers, twenty-eight destroyers and twenty submarines. However, the destruction of the fleet also denied it to Charles de Gaulle and the Free French Forces, which explained Hitler's satisfaction at the result.