Les Marins français du Jour J. FNFL - Normandie 44.

June 4, 1944, 18:30, South of England.
Liaison officers board twenty-two French vessels. Locked up with the commanders, they give them a large sealed envelope. From the departure of the English, the "pashas" discover their mission in the operation "Neptune" (code name given to the landing of the Allied troops in Normandy).
The crews are together. The men discover that they will be the first French to contribute to the landing. Many of these sailors from France who will participate in the largest naval operation of all time have joined de Gaulle in Britain. On the other hand, some, starting with their leader Admiral Jaujard, are more reluctant towards the general.
It is the story of these boats and men that forms the heart of the book. Among them, Querville with his submarine Juno who landed in Norway a commando responsible for blowing up a heavy water plant; or Levasseur with Aconite that sank two U-Boote in twelve hours.
The participation of French sailors is rarely, if ever, mentioned when celebrating the anniversaries of the landing in Normandy. It is only time to repair the injustice done to these men, their buildings and the Navy.