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On Tuesday December 10, 2024, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI)) of Brest will host a captivating conference dedicated to rediscovery of the Phénix submarine, sunk off the coast of Vietnam in 1939. This event, as part of the Iroise Wednesdays, will highlight the efforts of an expedition team, made up of professional divers, who are committed to unraveling the mystery surrounding this tragic shipwreck which caused the death of 70 sailors. A unique opportunity to discover unpublished documents and bring to life the history of a building built in Brest and disappeared in Vietnamese waters.
On Tuesday December 10, 2024, a significant event in maritime history will take place at the Brest CCI, highlighting the submarine Phoenix, which sank off the coast of Vietnam on June 15, 1939. This conference, organized as part of the Wednesdays of the Iroise, will be an opportunity to share the recent work of a team of professional divers who explored the traces of this shipwreck tragic, but also to discover previously unpublished documents and testimonies on this prestigious wreck.
Return to the sinking of the Phénix
THE Phoenix, a French submarine built in Brest, disappeared with its crew of 71 men during a naval tragedy near the Vietnamese coast. This sinking caused the loss of 70 lives and shocked pre-war France, it remains a mystery to this day. The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident still raise many questions that intrigue historians and marine enthusiasts. To better understand this event, the recent expedition made it possible to collect valuable testimonies and archives to which the team had access.
A determined search for the truth
In recent months, professional divers have left Brest with the aim of unraveling the mystery of the sinking of the Phoenix. Despite administrative interference which led to the cancellation of the mission to the exact site of the shipwreck, the team continued its research through dialogues with the families of the victims. Thus, this expedition made it possible to collect more than 35 testimonies from families affected by this maritime tragedy, offering new light on the history of the Phoenix and its mainly Breton crew.
Unpublished testimonies and documents presented
During the planned conference, Erwan L’Her, professor of medicine at the University of Western Brittany and member of the diving team, will share documents and stories that have never been disclosed until now. His work on the subject is not limited to this conference, since he is also preparing a book which will soon be published by Nautilus. This book promises to delve further into the poignant history of Phoenix and his men, thus restoring the memory of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.
Practical: Event information
The conference will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the CCI, located at 1, place du 19e-RI, in Brest. Those interested in attending this unique moment in the rediscovery of maritime history are invited to register in advance via the website ifmbrest.wordpress.com.
This evening promises to be a rare opportunity to hear about the Phoenix and deepen your knowledge of a little-known chapter of our maritime history. For more information about this event, you can check out articles such as this link Or here.