[Citizen Tom Paine]

I am replying to this without checking my history books. As I recall the French did all right in conventional war until the Franko-Prussian War of 1870. As a result, the French retrained their army trying to inspire "cran" into it. Cran as I recall means "guts". They were successful. Consequently, in WWI during which the western world learned to industrialize killing on an unprecedented scale- the French generals had their motivated men charge into machine guns until the soldier realized that it was machine gun -100, soldier- 0. Shortly there after, the French army laid down its arms and would not fight. The French medieval generals, and the British generals also, learned nothing concerning the tactics which they should use in the face of machine guns and heavy artillery until the very end of WWI.

The consequence of all this was that he French youngsters had very little enthusiasm for war. Recall that a generation or two had been shot off during the Napoleonic Wars and another generation in WWI. Perhaps they are really just displaying some wisdom.

In closing, there was a saying by an observer about the French army in the latter part of WWI. "The were not very good at fighting, but they were very good at something that sounded a lot like it."

[Fenris6]

In closing, there was a saying by an observer about the French army in the latter part of WWI. "The were not very good at fighting, but they were very good at something that sounded a lot like it."

In the workup to WWII, Churchill was advised not to worry, that the French Army was matchless. He would soon realize this estimate had a opposite meaning.

[Fenris6]

The consequence of all this was that he French youngsters had very little enthusiasm for war. Recall that a generation or two had been shot off during the Napoleonic Wars and another generation in WWI. Perhaps they are really just displaying some wisdom.

This was continental. The romantic image of warfare was destroyed by WWI, and yet the Brits still managed to muster heroes for the RAF. There is no excuse for France.

[WL-law]

Agree with your comments. From what I've read, once WWI settled into defined lines, the French soldiers refused to make attacks, and therefore the French Army could only fight defensively, using their artillery strength.