Winston Churchill (and England) Betrayed by France - March 1940

The Gathering Storm ^

[SamAdams76]

I am nearly finished with The Gathering Storm, Volume 1 of a six volume set of books written by Winston Churchill on World War Two. First off, I was very struck with the similarities the world faced in the 1930s that we face today. Back then, a dictator was allowed to violate treaties and grow in power while the countries that should have stepped in to stop him, instead appeased him. In fact, diplomacy won the day and we had, in the words of then-Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of England, "Peace For Our Time." Well, we all know how that turned out.

Anyway, there is an excerpt I would like to post for you that shows just how cowardly and pathetic France was even back then, as Hitler was on the verge of conquering them.

First, let me set the scene. This was during the so-called "Phoney War" that lasted during the winter of 1939-40. Germany had conquered Poland the previous September and spent that winter planning out its next offensives. The Germans had been mining the waterways all around England and though England was brilliantly developing countermeasures for them, they were nevertheless taking a horrible toll on British shipping.

Winston Churchill, who at that time was serving as First Lord (head of the Navy), devised a plan to mine the Rhine River to disrupt German shipping in the same manner that Germany was disrupting English shipping. Churchill's real intent was to force the Germans to stop the despicable practice of mining waterways - once Hitler stopped mining the seas around England, Churchill would stop mining the Rhine. Before putting the plan into action however, Churchill had to gain the support of the French, being that the Rhine was on their border. I'll let Sir Winston take it from here...

...In March [1940] all preparations [for the mining of the Rhine] were perfected, and I at length appealed both to my colleagues and to the French. The War Cabinet were very ready to let me begin this carefully-prepared offensive plan, and left it to me, with Foreign Office support, to do what I could with the French. In all their wars and troubles in my lifetime I have been bound up with the French, and I believed that they would do as much for me as for any other foreigner alive. But in this phase of the Twilight War I could not move them. When I pressed very hard they used a method of refusal which I never met before or since.

M. Daladier [Prime Minister of France] told me with an air of exceptional formality that "No aggressive action must be taken which might only draw reprisals upon France." The idea of not irritating the enemy did not commend itself to me. Hitler had done his best to strangle our commerce by the indiscrimate mining of our harbours. We had beaten him by defensive measures alone. Good, decent, civilised people, it appeared [according to the French], must never themselves strike until till after they have been struck dead. In these days the fearful German volcano and all its subterranean fires drew near to their explosion-point. There had been months of pretended war. On the one side endless discussions about trivial points, no decisions taken, or if taken rescinded, and the rule "Don't be unkind to the enemy; you will only make him angry." On the other, doom preparing - a vast machine grinding forward ready to break upon us!

Now doesn't that sound familiar! Of course, we know the end of that story. France, who didn't want to "anger" the enemy, was invaded and conquered by the German war machine three months after this incident. It took England and the United States - at horrendous cost of life - to make the situation right again for France.

[SamAdams76]

If you haven't done so already, read The Gathering Storm and its companion volumes. It is a tremendous work, written by one of the greatest figures of the 20th century (if not THE greatest).

[bcoffey]

I agree. The Gathering Storm is one of the best multi-volume sets I've ever read. I'm going to pull mine out and begin reading again tonight. Thank you, Sam

[Torie]

France was neutered by WW I, where its strategy descredited the establishment. Miliary elan was wiped out forever in France.

[WOSG]

It is a good story. "The best defense is a good offense."
France failed to heed that lesson. Had they attacked Germany in september 1939, they could have slowed the advance of Germany and the war might have been very different (and better and shorter than the 6-year war).

[witnesstothefall]

Good post bump. The French will never forgive the Americans or the British for saving them. The self-loathing most French must feel.....

[mass55th]

I've been watching his grandson's appearances on the Fox News Channel the past couple of nights. I believe he's working on a book of letters of his grandfather's. His insight is wonderful, especially when asked how he thinks his grandfather would react to all that's been going on with the UN, France, Germany and Russia.

[First_Salute]

The German Resistance - World War II

Adam von Trott was the son of a high official in the Prussian civil service. During 1932-33, he studied as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. Later, he spent six months in the U.S. and fourteen months in China, but insisted on returning to Germany against the advice of friends that he emigrate.

1937-38: Posted to China traveling by way of the U.S. Made use of his frequent trips to seek outside help for the Resistance.

Dr. Adam von Trott zu Solz (1909-1944)

1939: Visits London three times in 1939 and tries to get Lord Lothian and Lord Halifax to persuade the British government to abandon its policy of appeasement. On behalf of Beck, Goerdeler, Schacht, and Leuschner, Trott visits Washington in October 1939 to seek U.S. support for the Resistance. His trip ends in failure.

[beaversmom]

Thank you so much for suggesting this reading. Isn't it funny how history keeps repeating itself. It must be something genetic with the French to be such arrogant idiots. They really can't see past their noses. I'm sure Churchill wanted to strangle them. Now George Bush is getting his dose of Frog strategery--I'm sure he feels the same way Churchill must have.

[Walkingfeather]

I have a set of first additions if anyone is in the market ... ( I have two sets and I am keeping the other) Also you should read the history of the English Speaking people ... Masterful work.

[Walkingfeather]

Does make you wonder if we actually had to liberate france??? I mean wouldn't it been kind of funny to say to the Germans.." Okay we are occupying germany... But do whatever the hell you want with France" Talk about the thorn in the side manuever.

[John H K]

Eh, I was just reading a history of the U-Boat Wars in WWI and WWII, and I was struck at how many of the convoy escorts in 1942 and 1943 at the height of the Battle of the Atlantic were manned by Free French; tiny Free French Corvettes ramming U-boats in the middle of horrible storms, etc.

It wasn't all the French in WWII, and Churchill goes on to note the ones with honor (including De Gaulle, who despite his many annoying flaws later on was one of them).

[SamAdams76]

I recently acquired a hardbound set of "History of the English Speaking Peoples" on Ebay - a 1958 edition - and look very much forward to reading them. Churchill has a complete mastery of the English language that is rarely found today. Just like every note of Mozart's music is perfect, so are the words in Churchill's books!

[Walkingfeather]

interestingly after reading History of the English... I found my writing improved quite a bit. ( not to his level but it helped me)

[MEG33]

It was a failure on everyone's part. The carnage of WW1 and the world wide depression were there,America firsters,and prominent people were anti war. Roosevelt did lend lease.We were a sleeping giant. We now have the burden of power.The French saved Paris and collaborated with the Germans .May we do better with world power than they.

[Peach]

After reading The Threatening Storm by Kenneth Pollack about how containment does not work in Iraq and followed that with Wm. Manchester's The Last Lion - the parallels in history were unmistakable and rather frightened me more than 911 did in that one could so easily see how WWII could have gone another way.

[John H K]

Interestingly Churchill was a TERRIBLE speller (irrelevant if you have an editor, of course) but he's the ultimate example of how to write in a clear and concise manner, particularly for college students who fall into incomprehensible wordiness and academic-speak.

[SkyPilot]

bttt

[elbucko]

Churchill has a complete mastery of the English language that is rarely found today.

Churchill's works are such a pleasure to read. Like Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, the words of Churchill are smooth, yet invigorating at the same time.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

My uncle was shot in the back by a French sniper in Ageria in November 1942. When the US landed in North Africa "French honor" demanded that they resist. When the Afrika Corps entered Tunisia a month later apparently French Honor was not so aggrieved. Not a shot was fired.

[MEG33]

They will never live down the Vichy government.