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To: CougarGA7

The pace of this war was ahead of all but a handful of French generals. Certainly Weygand, Gamelin, Georges and Billotte were totally befuddled. While some say the “Weygand Plan” was doomed by Billotte’s car accident, I doubt he could have pulled it off. The French, British and Belgians just didn’t have the ability to cobble together a mobile striking force. Millions of refugees clogging the roads didn’t help them any.

I can only think of two French combat generals who could stay with the Germans: Prioux and DeGaulle. Prioux was dealt a shabby hand when Blanchard went upstairs after the loss of Billotte, and DeGaulle was a new general still getting the feel for commanding an armored division.


12 posted on 06/01/2010 12:03:23 PM PDT by henkster (A broken government does not merit full faith and credit.)
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To: henkster

Prioux was handed a sinking ship after Billotte was killed, it was only a few day later that he was taken prisoner by the Germans along with most of what was left of the French 1st Army.

I would add de Lattre to that list though. He was a minor figure during the battle for France here, but he will distinquish himself here in a few days at Rethel and also will put up a good fight at Loire. Also, he was in charge of the French 1st in southern France after its landing in operation DRAGOON. The French actually put a real good effort against the Germans in the south with the exception of a stop order that allowed the Colmar pocket to form. The blame on that though in my opinion falls equally on Devers and Lattre combined with a “red headed step child” attitude toward supplying this southern army group. However, it should be pointed out that it was nearly impossible for anyone to get past Lattre’s ego which made him come off even snobbier than Guiard in North Africa.


13 posted on 06/01/2010 2:45:28 PM PDT by CougarGA7 (In order to dream of the future, we need to remember the past. - Bartov)
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