Posted on 02/06/2003 7:18:18 PM PST by Chi-townChief
Now that France has emerged as a leading critic of U.S. policy toward Iraq, a lot of pundits and editorial cartoonists are having a field day lampooning France's ''cowardice'' and proclivity to ''surrender.'' The supposed evidence for this slur is France's defeat in World War II.
Why is that, exactly? No one would dream of sneering at Poland, Greece, Yugoslavia, Norway or any of the other nations overcome by Germany in the war. So what makes France fair game?
France's critics need to be aware of some historical facts. At the beginning of World War II, Germany possessed the world's most powerful army, led by some of the world's most brilliant commanders. When Germany launched its great assault on France in 1940, it had no worries in the East, having defeated Poland and concluded a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. Moreover, France was strategically handicapped by Holland's and Belgium's foolish insistence on neutrality--which Hitler blithely violated the moment it suited him.
By the time the Anglo-American forces reached France in 1944, Germany had been weakened by three years of savage warfare against Russia. Even so, the Allies barely managed to contain a German counteroffensive (the Battle of the Bulge). How much tougher do you think the German army was at the war's outset?
Those who carp about France's ''ingratitude'' never seem to remember that the United States could not have become a nation without France's help. At the very least, they should thank their lucky stars they didn't have to face the Wehrmacht in 1940.
Pan Demetrakakes,
St. Charles
letters@suntimes.com
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
Kindly explain then, how the French military of the second world war took casualties numerically equivalent to those of the USA, but in only one theatre of operations, in an army less than half the size, raised from a population one third the size. Not to mention the civilian casualties. Never checked them, have you? It's always easier to be a canting fool, isn't it?
And speaking of "sempre ragione", trouble yourself to compare France's wartime losses to Italy's.
My father came to America as an infant, enlisted in the Army during World War II, and went back to fight in Normandy. I think just being American must take the surrender out. He didn't eat that much cheese, either.
The British and French told them they weren't going to come to their assistance.
The French and British:
1) Had more tanks than the Germans in 1940
2) Had better tanks than the Germans in 1940
Luftwaffe was clearly superior because the French had screwed up their aircraft procurement and had a lot of junk.
COMPLETELY WRONG. The Maginot Line is replete with myths.
The problem with the French was LACK of confidence in the line. They manned it with too many troops, and didn't have enough troops on the half of the French border that the line did not extend to.
And that's the point. Most of Europe viewed Hitler as a wild eyed fanatic who didn't pose much of a threat. Sound familiar?
<===Mash ThisFrench Army to Market "Ultimate Surrender" Video Game
Paris - Inspired by the commercial success of the United States Army’s "Boot Camp" video game, the General Staff of the French Army has announced plans to market "Ultimate Surrender," a video game based upon the proud military traditions of the Gauls.
In the game we follow the exploits of Lucky Pierre, an apprentice garlic salesman from Marseilles, as he joins the French Army and begins a rigorous course of combat training.
The First Level of the game is called "Survival School," and the players have to help Lucky Pierre survive 24 hours without red wine or crème brulé.
The Second Level is "Capitulation," and the goal here is to see which player can have Lucky Pierre surrender the fastest without firing a shot or getting his uniform dirty.
Level Three is "Collaboration." Here the players battle to see who can collect the largest numbers of pairs of nylon stockings and packages of chocolates by having Lucky Pierre perform sexual favors for members of the occupying forces.
Level Four is "Be Ungrateful to America for Rescuing Your Sorry French Ass Once Again." In this extremely challenging part of the game contestants vie with one another to see who can make Lucky Pierre behave in the surliest manner when the United States inevitably comes to the rescue of the defeated French.
The Final Level is "Pretending to Have Been in the Resistance." Here contestants compete in a battle of tall tales and whoppers as they try to protect Lucky Pierre from treason charges.
Marketing tests show that "Ultimate Surrender" is a big hit with French teenagers and young adults who are too young to have experienced France’s lightening surrender to the Germans in 1940 or its defeat by the Vietnamese in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. "Zees is a great tool to inspire ze patriotism in ze youths, n’est ce pas?" said General Jean-Jacques Loseur, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, during his weekly press conference. "Since ze end of ze Cold War we French have not had many opportunities to surrender or to show great cowardice in the face of much weaker opponents."
When questioned about comments made in the French Chamber of Deputies that "Ultimate Surrender" makes the French Army look like a bunch of gutless mama’s boys, General Loseur pulled out a white handkerchief, put his hands over his head and said, "Oh heck, I give up."
That would have been a neat trick. Germany had already surrendered before the first a bomb was even tested.
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