They didn't lose in WWI. And the US didn't "win" WWI.I tend to agree with most of this. The French did not have the luxury of a wide channel and a powerful navy to guard it. That stupid Maginot Line was a relic of the pre blitzgrieg defenses, the Panzers just drove around it.
The French fought the Germans to a standstill. As did the British in their part of the line. The battlefield was pretty static and both sides bled themselves dry.
When the US joined late in the war, that was the straw that broke the Germans back. We were spared the enormous casualties the French, Germans, and Brits took.
No excuse for WWII, but it was not the average French soldier that was responsible for that debacle. It was poor planning and wishful thinking on the part of the political class that caused them to lose to the Nazis.
And the same could be said for the British. They were saved by the English Channel. Otherwise the blitzkrieg would have rolled over them, too.
And try to remember, the French - with all of the major European powers united against them - managed to march all the way to Moscow.
It is a lazy cliche that the French can't fight. They were a world power for centuries. Originally Posted by ExNYer
And remember, most of the World was in "appeasement mode", nobody wanted another World War. The idea in Europe was to let Hitler have what he wanted, as long as it didn't affect you. Unfortunately, it did effect every one else. Quite quickly, in fact.
The Free French lived to fight another day, and, (despite Charles DeGauls antics), were part of the overall Victory.
It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback about human behavior. But despite all of the bluster, nobody really knows how one will react until they are put in the same position.
