[stinkypew]

Look, all I'm saying is that it wasn't some kind of glorious victory against long odds.

And this may really make people mad, but the French, historically speaking, aren't the surrender monkeys of the popular image. Verdun was probably the longest, bloodiest battle in history, including Stalingrad. Aside from 1870 and 1940, I'd say they've done rather well on the field.

[yarddog]

For that matter the Italians actually fought well during some battles in WW I.

I agree the French are not as bad as has been said although the Germans did generally outfight them.

I doubt if any troops except maybe the Spartans at Thermopylae, fought better than the French did at Dien Bien Phu. They literally were outnumbered a hundred to one or something close to that.

[Beck_isright]

"Verdun was probably the longest, bloodiest battle in history, including Stalingrad."

As were most WWI battles because the morons that ran the French military were clueless beyond digging trenches and building big guns. The only thing that saved the Frogs in WWI was the entry of the US and the fact that the Brits decided to save their butts. Militarily speaking since the 1850's, they've sucked. You left out 1954, 1962, and many many many other examples. Refer to the long running thread on FR about the military history of France.