French History of Warfare

AlbinoBlacksheep ^

[agere_contra]

UKman, I would rather you cut our great allies the Americans some slack. Please don't turn this enjoyable French-whacking thread into a bitter YankSpanking session.

[ishabibble]

>>>I hope this is taken in the spirit it is intended.<<<

This list is always popping up, but your post is the first I've ever seen that is cheeky enough to warrant a response.
Personally, I don't think that the French have a "very respectable" anything, but when it comes to fighting, they are absolutely disgraceful. Forget the rest and simply consider the Algerians. That's all that need be done here.

Did you happen to see the Columbia adventure? That's the American spirit!

p.s. They're giving away green solidarity ribbons at your local police station, hurry down and don't miss out!

[agere_contra]

The Napoleonic Wars

Napoleon was pretty bloody terrifying if you ask me. Ok, he wasn't french, but his ruthlessly efficient marshals were.

[rbg81]

Napoleon was a great leader--no doubt about that. However, a key reason why the French did so well in the Napoleonic Wars was that the French often had overwhelming force. They were the first nation to implement a universal conscription, significantly boosting their ranks. This is why they were able to field a grand army of 250,00 against Russia (of which, only 25,000 returned).

[woofer]

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

Of course,we all know why the French plant trees along both sides of their roads...

Because the Germans perfer to march in the shade.

[Old North State]

The US could not really be considered a major military power until after the 1st World War. We used the safety of oceans to avoid the ravages of external wars with major powers and expanded across the continent. I doubt anyone would seriously believe we were a match for European military powers if they could have projected there forces across land.
The second world war, of course changed everything. Geography no longer provided the aegis.We turned our enormous industrial might loose in a world ravaged by a century of war and threatened by a nuclear foe. The great cold war standoff ensued.
I don't think Europe has recovered to this day from the terrible losses and I think to little has been made of the fact. It will probably take another generation or two, in the great sweep of time, for Europe to recover its vigor and will. The arc of socialism and communalism follows weakened and feminised society. I don't think we can question the valor and fighting spirit of the tommy or grenadier throughout history. It is hard for any country to bear the enormous destruction of modern warfare for very long, the populous loses its will long before the courage of military forces fail. The lands of France probably more than any other place on Earth have borne ceaseless carnage reaching a climax in the last two centuries. That should have been the lesson for the French in Algeria, the US in Viet Nam, etc. I think it is what the Islamists are counting on, that there will is stronger than the West's. Time will tell.

[zek157]

Yeap it's taken in the spirit of KMA. You must be french.

[ukman]

I largely agree, WW2 did change everthing. Here in Europe we have largely recovered from the demographic losses, but the main change was that the Europeans (particularly France and Germany) had had enough of war, and are very conscious of the limitations and pitfalls of military force projection. This is why diplomacy and non-military power is always preferred. And as we see in Iraq, a big army can't solve every problem.
As for Islamists, who's scared of them? They're a minority among Muslims, and Muslims are still a small minority in all European countries: look at the figures, and relax.
As for their culture, I love a good curry, but that's all I (and most other Europeans) will ever take to.

[ukman]

I'm British. No sense of humour, what?

[Kenny Bunk]

Gosh, UKMan, you mean other countries were involved in WWI and WWII?

I was always taught that we Yanks whipped the Kaiser and Hitler on our own. Are you sure of your "facts?" As you may know, nothing happened in WWII until Pearl Harbor was bombed by some people from Asia, so don't try and horn in on our tremendous victory against overwhelming odds.

Foreigner!

[Hemingway's Ghost]

They win one or two battles, but their capital city is captured and the White House is burnt down (not usually a sign one's winning), and Canada stays British.

Yeah, but with all due respect, during the War of 1812 our fledgling Navy beat the much-vaunted Royal Navy like a red-headed stepchild!

[5Madman2]

I love this comment from an old FR Thread

This came from a comment on the French suffering through the heatwave but not buying AC because it was too "American:"


"The French prefer the sour smell of sweat because it reminds them of the smell of German buttocks. At the root of their reptile cortex, each of them carries the genetic disposition for this odor like an infant for the smell of it's mother."

[Illwind]

Agincort was a long day for the French.

[ukman]

Very true! And credit to the USN, John Paul Jones etc. But like I said, don't take my post too seriously. And I can't be arsed to discuss every fine point of US military history. It's all in books and website for everyone to read, and it speaks for itself. I've read a lot about other nations' military history too, which is why the Frog-bashing, funny at first, is beginning to irk me. That said, I'm neither pro nor anti-French: I just like to be fair.

[ukman]

>Foreigner!<

That I am - and proud of it!

[Hemingway's Ghost]

But like I said, don't take my post too seriously.

Oh, I take it in the spirit in which it was intented. I love my British cousins . . . except for the lobster-backed bastards who drove my people from their homelands in Acadie. As for the French? Well, it's tough to have a French surname these days.

[ukman]

Sorry, where is/was Acadie? Canada?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

The Canadian maritime provinces: Acadie.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

- French Canal (in Panama)

- Lost. Surrendered to local mosquitoes.

[1rudeboy]

Especially the WW1 description!

Incorrect, but funny nonetheless.