Posted on 09/10/2016 6:05:37 AM PDT by Lazamataz
There was an event I cannot seem to find in Google, but in WWI a German General called the French Army a derogatory term that the French Army then adopted proudly. I am seeking this nugget of information for an editorial.
The German General said something like, "Let us roll over the ######'s," speaking of the French. The French turned around and adopted the term with pride.
Please, if you know of this event and know the term, I would be most appreciative.
A Northern giraffe or a Southern giraffe?
“Les pantalons rouge c’est la france!”
It was the British Army, not the French Army (The British commander was General French, which may have led to your confusion). The speaker wasn’t a ‘German General’, it was the Kaiser himself. And the emperor didn’t use profanity. The usual English quote for the directive was, “walk over General French’s contemptible little army”, which the German forces proceeded to do, virtually eliminating the British regular Army, which nevertheless managed to set a defensive line. (After that, the British fought with the Territorials and the New Army).
Technically, only the survivors of the old regular army were entitled to call themselves ‘The Old Contemptibles’
(While widely attributed to an order issued by the Kaiser, the order itself has never turned up, and it may have been mere British propaganda).
“I tell ya, this place is so filled with experts that if I wanted to mate with a giraffe, someone could tell me the height of the ladder I’d need.”
Just this week was an article stating that scientist now claim there to be four different species of giraffe. Surely one is short enough, cute enough,...maybe like the one that Russian billionaire had in the commercial.
The Zouaves were formed in Algeria and Morocco in mid-19th century and were a French Infantry unit distinguished by their red pantaloons (women’s pants).
The quote was from a French Minister of War, prior to WWI, in response to calls for the French Army to upgrade their uniforms to something more practical. The British Army had adopted the khaki uniform, while Germany had moved to a field gray uniform.
You are correct in your assessment of the BEF.
After their disaster at Mons in 1914, Lord French retreated more than 100km. w/plans to evacuate his force back to England. But the appearance of Kitchener, sent by the PM, prevented it.
Germany, could and should have won the war decisively by that fall in 1914, sparing mankind the relentless bloodshed of the 20th century.
But the colossal incompetence of Von Moltke, a favorite of the Kaiser and a terminally ill man, stood in the way.
Such is history.
Think outside the box (as they say). With your local reputation it would be wise to not limit yourself, recommend you plan on acquiring an adjustable ladder.
Just the other day I heard Laz say “Is there a window open? I feel a giraffe in here.”
The problem with generals (and ministers of war) is that they tend to be older and hold on to what they learned as they were coming up. Colorful uniforms were actually helpful in the 18th and early 19th centuries in the sense that a general on the field could clearly see which units were where. But as the killing range increased during the Crimean War and the American Civil War, it became better to be less conspicuous on the battlefield. But the old guys couldn’t let go of idea that French soldiers have always worn red trousers.
Even worse was the idea that élan would carry the troops through artillery and machine-gun fire. It took a couple of years of slaughter before that idea was abandoned.
Dan Carlin’s 5 part podcast on WW1 -Blueprint for Armegeddon- was.....I don’t even know how to describe it. Any FReeper who loves history would love Dan Carlin. I think most of his old stuff is on youtube if you don’t like loading podcasts.
Sorry. I should add the podcasts are called Hardcore History and it will be the most entertaining learning you will ever participate in. Mesmerizing. His podcast on the WW2 Eastern affront haunts me to this day
I created this, armed with the information this thread provided....
The problem was not Germany’s failure to attain victory in 1914 but her eagerness to go to war in the expectation of crushing France and Britain. Instead, if Germany had kept the peace and followed a policy of conciliation, she could have continued to build on the scientific and industrial prowess and commercial wealth that was making her the leading power on the European continent. A powerful but pacific Germany would have achieved far more in the long run than even a victorious Germany in 1914.
There are two ways of dealing with a perjorative (insult/slur). One way is to whine and cry about how you are the victim. I like the people who choose to claim the name instead.
Another pejorative that the Dough-boys accepted with pride was based upon their persistent and ubiquitous companion in the trenches.
For years, these men marched in Veterans Parades proudly calling themselves “The Cooties”.
I am old enough to remember them!
Researchers Discover Giraffes Are Actually Four Separate Species
I recommend reading “The Guns of August” by Barbara Tuchman.
All you ever wanted to know about the opening days of WWI.
Wish she had written about the rest of the war.
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