Agreed.
In WW1, the French lost 1.4 million men, out of a population of just 39 and a half million. The US had only about 115,000 military deaths in that conflict, out a population of over 90 million.
In WW2, almost 100,000 Frenchmen perished fighting in the Battle for France, over a time peroid of less then 40 days. Another 100,000 or so French troops died fighting in Free French Forces, making for a total of over 200,000 military dead out of a population of 41 and a half million. The US saw 415,000 military deaths over the course of four years of fighting, out of a population of over 131 million.
In the War in Indochina, the French suffered more then 75,000 deaths out of a population of 40 million. The US lost 58,000 troops in the Vietnam War, out of a population of 194 million.
In the war in French Algeria, more then 25,000 French troops died.
Well, the way I see it, the French might not have a very good track record at winning wars, but there is a big difference between that and cowardice.
Don’t forget the French Foriegn Legion...
Pound for pound the most “tenacious” fighting force in the world...Up and down that chain of command...
(I can feel the SpecOps wannabees, queuing up ready to dispell this analysis...hehehe)