05-14-2021, 12:13 PM
@"drussell41"
A psychological effect of the Second World War is that it left a strongly imprinted series of stereotypes on our national culture. Brits=ironclad allies, Germans=goose-stepping bad guys, French=surrender monkeys, and on and on.
The truth, of course, is that every national society is tremendously complex. In France's case, they had a century of awful history between about 1870 and 1970. But back in 1970, when they should have been able to enjoy calmer times and rebuild their society -- the consequences of their colonial history impacted them in the form of increasing immigration from the former colonies. So now the consequences of that are becoming apparent.
IMO, it is a mistake to judge the French military of today by the events of 1940. More informative to look at the rebuilt French military of 1943-45 as the foundational basis for what their military is today.
Cheers
A psychological effect of the Second World War is that it left a strongly imprinted series of stereotypes on our national culture. Brits=ironclad allies, Germans=goose-stepping bad guys, French=surrender monkeys, and on and on.
The truth, of course, is that every national society is tremendously complex. In France's case, they had a century of awful history between about 1870 and 1970. But back in 1970, when they should have been able to enjoy calmer times and rebuild their society -- the consequences of their colonial history impacted them in the form of increasing immigration from the former colonies. So now the consequences of that are becoming apparent.
IMO, it is a mistake to judge the French military of today by the events of 1940. More informative to look at the rebuilt French military of 1943-45 as the foundational basis for what their military is today.
Cheers
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Location: The lost world, Elsewhen