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To: Romulus

What was the French reaction to the Norman takeover of Normandy?

What was the French reaction to the Nazi takeover of Europe?

What was the French reaction to mobs of ‘youths’ rioting and burning cars in their streets?


61 posted on 04/04/2008 11:17:30 AM PDT by allmendream
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To: allmendream
What was the French reaction to the Nazi takeover of Europe?

Well, I'm so glad you asked.

In WWII, France had peak forces of 5 million -- on percentage terms a much higher rate of mobilisation than the USA's 12.3 million. French KIA were 210,000 (4.2% of forces), versus USA's 292,000 (2.4%). So they mobilised at a higher rate, and they died in combat at a higher rate. The closest thing America has ever seen like a war for survival was our Civil War. The French ran up a KIA percentage of "just" 2/3 that of the American Civil War, but those casualties were suffered not over years, but a matter of a few weeks.

Total French military casualties 1939-1945 were 13.04%, versus 9.3% for the Brits and 3.75% for the USA.

This does not included an additional 270,000 French civilians killed (France suffered civilian casualties at a rate of 0.83%, versus 0.21% for the Brits, and zero for the USA). Nor does it count the trauma of world war I: With 8.4 million men under arms, France had 1.4 million dead -- 16.4% KIA -- plus 4.3 million wounded. In that war, the USA had 4.7 million men under arms, with only 117,000 KIA -- 2.5% -- and 204,000 wounded.

Now you know the facts: that the French had a higher percentage of men in uniform, suffering a higher casualty rate (they had as many uniformed casualties as the USA, despite our having more than 3 times the number of servicemen). Perhaps the French were badly led. Certainly they were unlucky enough to be up against one of the best-trained, best-equipped fighting machines in history. I hate to deprive you of your fun in bashing froggies, but I’m trying to save you from coming off as an ignorant blowhard.

PS. The comment about the Norman migrations in the 10th century is just stupid.

74 posted on 04/04/2008 1:36:25 PM PDT by Romulus ("Ira enim viri iustitiam Dei non operatur")
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