Posted on 06/06/2024 10:24:29 AM PDT by DFG
The French penchant for bureaucracy has been roundly mocked after British paratroopers were met by clipboard-carrying officials as they landed in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Footage shows troops being forced to join a Kafkaesque queue in a farmer’s field to show passports and documents to waiting customs officers as soon as they touched down.
Politicians and the public pointed out the absurdity of British soldiers being made to show their papers on the 80th anniversary of the day they launched the liberation of France from the Nazis.
Former cabinet minister David Jones told MailOnline that France only had control of its own borders because of the arrival of similar British troops 80 years ago.
'They risked their lives to make France safe for bureaucracy,' he quipped.
Meanwhile Brits declared it was a markedly different reception to that received by their forebears who dropped into northern France ahead of D-Day, with one asking: ‘Where were they in 1944?’
Another joked that British troops should have simply jumped between 12 noon and 3pm when French officials were out to lunch, while a third added: ‘Vive la bureaucracy.’
Some 320 British, Belgian and US paratroopers took part in the jump, descending into a historic D-Day drop zone to recreate the events of 1944.
However only the 250 British paras were required to show passports as the US soldiers jumped from within France and Belgium is part of the European Union.
Taking to Twitter, Tory councillor for Scotton and Lower Wensleydale, Tom Jones, asked: ‘Where were they in 1944?’
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
They should have just shouted “Aloha Snackbar” and the frogs would have left them alone.
But if the British paratroopers had their passports it implies they knew this was going to happen ahead of time.
A very elderly British gentleman arrived in Paris by plane.
At the French immigration desk, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag. “You have been to France before, Monsieur?” the immigration officer asked, sarcastically.
The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.
“Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready.”
The British gentleman said, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!”
The elderly gentleman gave the French immigration officer a long, hard look. Then he quietly explained, “Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on a beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn’t find any ****ing Frenchman to show it to.”
Surprising that the customs officials didn’t just throw up a white flag and surrender.
I used to go France without a passport and I was a paratrooper, I have never used a passport.
It’s a sad situation when 80 years later British Paras jump into Normandy and the first thing they’re asked is “Your Papers Please”
When we were having problems with the French Border patrol and customs I went in to see what the problem was, I didn’t speak French but did end up drinking their wine and sharing a bottle of Jack Daniels I was smuggling past them until we ended up having so much fun together.
I’m glad they take immigration seriously.
Wish our customs department did.
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