Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

French weren't cowards (REALLY BIG LAUGH ALERT)
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 6, 2003 | Pan Demetrakakes

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: cheeseandwhine; cheeseeating; france; french; grapeswillers; isurrender; pleasedonthurtme; sewercalledparis; snaileaters; surrendermonkeys; trufflesuckers; vichyfrance; whiteflag; wwii
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-143 next last
To: 68skylark
Keep on mocking. It was the French monarchy that helped the US at Yorktown and France executed them only a few years later.
61 posted on 02/06/2003 8:34:14 PM PST by ExpandNATO
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: LibertarianInExile
...er...that's French MILITARY.
62 posted on 02/06/2003 8:35:03 PM PST by LibertarianInExile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: ffusco
The French surrendered without firing a shot.

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.

63 posted on 02/06/2003 8:37:54 PM PST by Romulus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: yendu bwam
The French are physically weak, morally weak, intellectually weak, and weak on courage.

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.

64 posted on 02/06/2003 8:42:10 PM PST by angry elephant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase
I see it differently. The french are not surrendering cowards, they are ignorant morons, ignoring the obvious. Maybe the image below offers a subliminal picture of their true character.

65 posted on 02/06/2003 8:42:45 PM PST by NoNewTaxes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
Hey, we got the cajuns down here in Louisiana. They're pretty far removed from France though. I think they're the reason why there's a courage deficit in France. They took it all with them.
66 posted on 02/06/2003 8:44:45 PM PST by Bogey78O (It's not a Zero it's an "O")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
I give up.
67 posted on 02/06/2003 8:47:41 PM PST by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grand Old Partisan
They could have held off the Germans for more than long enough for the British and French to come to their assistance.

The British and French told them they weren't going to come to their assistance.

68 posted on 02/06/2003 8:49:09 PM PST by John H K
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
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.

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.

69 posted on 02/06/2003 8:50:38 PM PST by John H K
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkingClassFilth
In 1940, France was hampered by their arrogant confidence in the Maginot line.

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.

70 posted on 02/06/2003 8:52:42 PM PST by John H K
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Stefan Stackhouse
#7: Well stated!!
71 posted on 02/06/2003 8:54:11 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Comment #72 Removed by Moderator

To: altayann
The French Revolution was the crucible that made possible the ensuing centuries of Leftist discord
A revolution that was based largely on the American revolution, as I recall. You know, liberty and all that stuff.

READ BURKE


73 posted on 02/06/2003 8:55:45 PM PST by federalisthokie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: You Dirty Rats
"That's exactly right. They have not learned how dangerous it is to appease a dictator."

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?

74 posted on 02/06/2003 8:56:07 PM PST by blackbart.223
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: altayann
The French Revolution was an orgy of violence with the excuse of freedom. Some French leaders came to their senses and realized they had turned the country into a mob run bloodbath and were promptly killed for it.
75 posted on 02/06/2003 8:56:12 PM PST by Bogey78O (It's not a Zero it's an "O")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
<===Mash This

French 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."

76 posted on 02/06/2003 9:04:06 PM PST by SAMWolf (To look into the eyes of the wolf is to see your soul)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bogey78O
The Cajuns left a LONG time before the French killed off all their brave men.
77 posted on 02/06/2003 9:04:56 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (.. . and a good thing too . . . I love Cajun cooking and music . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Porterville
"Well now, we could have always nuked the Germans if we got tired of fighting the big bad Germans."

That would have been a neat trick. Germany had already surrendered before the first a bomb was even tested.

78 posted on 02/06/2003 9:06:16 PM PST by blackbart.223
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Romulus
I know a lot of Frenchmen died during WW2, most of them were Jews, Gays, cripples, and other undesireables, a few of them were soldiers since they had surrendered so quickly.
OTOH: Italy has a pretty lousy military record and I make no claims otherwise: 500k dead in WW1. WW2: Lackluster army, poorly equipped for mechanized war, poor leadership still fighting the last war. Formidable Navy, modern, fast and not used effectively, no radar or sea-worthy carrier, most of it sunk in harbour by Brits. Air Force- some decent planes but not in enough numbers to matter in the end. But I'm an American and I appreciate what PM Berlusconi said about America. Italy will help the US in Iraq - even if it mean only the use of Italian bases, replacing US forces with Alpini in Afghanistan, and a few Tornado sorties, they are doing what they can. They don't have a big offensive capability and prefer to do peace-keeping, mine clearing, road building etc. and that's fine. Nobody expects a big Italian Troop deployment to Iraq, but I bet they build a few hospitals and schools like they did in Lebanon in the 80's. And that's why America loves Italy, they don't pretend to be so important, like the French, God knows why?





79 posted on 02/06/2003 9:12:22 PM PST by ffusco (sempre ragione)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: John H K
"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."

Well, John, you need to read your history a little more.

The reason they neglected the rest of their borders was precisely because they had such complete confidence in the impregnability of the line. The Maginot was a showboat replete with theaters, railroads and cafes. Their myopic thinking was firmly rooted in WWI experience. The German thought, OTOH, invented WWII - blitzkrieg ring a bell?
80 posted on 02/06/2003 9:23:49 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Defund NPR, PBS and the LSC.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-143 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson