I guess someone has to say it, so I will. The whole French “surrender monkey” thing started when France collapsed during 1940 Nazi invasion.
That collapse was not due to cowardice. The Germans simply had better leaders, much better leaders. It’s also worth remembering that the British could evacuate at Dunkirk largely because of the heroic rearguard action of the French at Lille.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Lille_(1940)
Re: 8 - Careful - reasoned argument and rational thought goes against the narrative.
Thank you, I am honored to know two “cheese eating surrender monkeys” that served all over Africa and French Indochina as Legion Paras.
Even in their ‘70s and ‘80s they’d laugh at anyone that said that....and could kill them with their bare hands.
In particular the Germans had better military doctrine. They integrated the new tanks, use of radios, and use of air support in military operations to complement infantry and artillery to create what we call today combined arms. This was Blitzkreig.
The French leadership was still stuck in the 19th Century / WWI. They didn’t have a Guderian or even a Liddell-Hart. Interestingly, the French had some excellent tanks that were superior to what the Germans deployed in 1940 against them. But superior German doctrine, organization and leadership overcame that material disadvantage.
As a Francophile and fluent French speaker, and friend of France generally I, for one, am tired of the revisionism surrounding French action in WWII. I will make a few statements:
France was and remains in absolute political disarray. The Ardennes offensive was a surprise, sure, but France fell in two weeks. Give me a break.
The Vichy government was actively pro-Nazi and supported the evacuation and extermination of Jews.
We hear constantly about the “Resistance.” Now, it seems, every Frenchman’s grandfather was a member. Where were these bold, brave millions then?
There WERE Resistance fighters, and there were too few. Their valor has been stolen by generations of poseurs.
The French Navy had the opportunity and were repeatedly invited - the ship’s officers themselves - to surrender their fleets to the British, sail for safe U.S. or British harbors, or exercise other options. With a few rare exceptions they refused.
As a sailor and licensed Captain this last fact tells me much about the mentality of the time.
I believe that mentality endures. It is not true in all situations, but this is a society which has repeatedly shown itself to be infuriatingly comprised of collaborationist wussies.
I agree with your analysis of the French in 1940.
The Germans were waging a contemporary war and the French were ready to fight World War One.
True enough but the people of France learned nothing from being occupied with the willing help from the French government!