Damn the French they have gone TOO far!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Rothy
An Attempt to 'draw people in' perhaps, but you cannot ignore the points.

Frogger, you need to distinguish between a surrender and a tactical retreat - The French gave up thier Capital!

In our retreat many normal folk sailed over to dunkirk risking thier life and ignoring any other commitments to pick up our soldiers.

Leaving your allies and bulwark against Nazi aggression stranded.

You and the French were both outfought and outmaneuvred. The Allied lines were in chaos. The Germans were sweeping forward dozens of miles each day. Hundreds of thousands of French troops were trapped in pockets on the frontier.

The traitors who formed Vichy France were not admirable people, but in a defeated nation you don't have to look too far to find your quisling (named after a Norwegian, not a Frenchman interestingly enough).

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Ned
Spiffor, in a earlier post, you pointed with pride that you were a member of the French communist party. One reason is that the French communist party fought against fascism and Nazism during WWII.

We were allies then.

I only wish we were allies once again against the modern incarnation of fascist evil - Saddam Hussein. Is there anyway we can turn this around and gain support of people like you and the French left?

The only way would be to convince us this war has been decided to save the Iraqis from their dictator, and not for the egoistical interests of the US. Except if some massive propaganda is done, it is a lost cause. I often quote "L'humanité" when I'm giving news about France here, it is the communist newspaper, the one that I read. And everything in this paper says Bush went to war for his interests and America's. The whole section of the paper is dubbed "Bush's War", rather than "War in Iraq" as one would expect

[Pekka]

There were three capitals in Europe that were not invaded by foreing troops.. London, Moscow and Helsinki. So we must rule like crazy! What do you say, let's from secret military alliance, we finns, you brits, and you ruskies? We could think about what role the US would get, maybe they could be in that secret alliance too. I'm telling you guys, we'd rule the world!

[Pekka]

Because looking our fighting tendencies, we will go to the last man and never turn our backs when fight is on. So either we are victorious and kick everyones butts, or we die trying. I think we have a good chance though..

[KrazyHorse]

Stockholm, Bern, Madrid and Lisbon weren't invaded either.

Only the Finns managed it by actually aligning themselves with the Nazis...

[Worthingtons]

'You and the French were both outfought and outmaneuvred'

Very true, in the opening we were certainly caught unprepared, in fact the 'mock' Surrender of Britain was even filmed as propaganda by the Germans but we somehow managed to turn it around in time for the Americans to come and help us mop up. As I say tho, we are determined people, and willing to graft when neccesary.

I heard sometime back in France that they had reduced the hours of a standard to working week (35 hours is it now?) - I suppose some people just like the easy option...

[Spiffor]

"The Brits are superior PEOPLE"
You know you Rosbifs are kind of funny people who are best at being the laughingstock of our superior French people

[Sandman]

The reasons for the defeat of France were ones of geography. End of story.

[Pekka]

Frogger, true but they weren't fighting that much.

You claim we only were able to take the invasion attempt because nazis gave us some weapons? It was a help sure, but I don't see what the problem is. We didn't have common goals, or plans for that matter, they gave us weapons. Also few troopers came too, ready to fight SU, but eventually we had to fight with them too. I don't see your point. Moscow survived only because of the help of US and Britain?

Is there anything you would say we did wrong? Or are you just frustrated because I didn't add Canada to the list of secret alliance?

[KrazyHorse]

My point isn't about the Winter War, but about how you managed to avoid the brunt of Nazi agression.

Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal were all neutral throughout the war. The Finns managed to be allied to the side with the upper hand at all points in time. Interesting...

[Menlas]

Originally posted by Sandman
The reasons for the defeat of France were ones of geography. End of story.

It is probably a good reason indeed, because you'll notice Rothy still didn't answer to this one

[Pekka]

Frogger, ah you meant that. Yep true..
But then again, SU did attack, so what you want? SU AND Nazis attacking us? Man, you really are tough one to please

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by Spiffor
The only way would be to convince us this war has been decided to save the Iraqis from their dictator, and not for the egoistical interests of the US.

That seems clearly self-evident to me, so I see no reason to waste time pointing it out to the French. Why is it we need to convince you of anything?

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Pekka
Frogger, ah you meant that. Yep true..
But then again, SU did attack, so what you want? SU AND Nazis attacking us? Man, you really are tough one to please

I'm just having you on a bit, Pekka.

[Worthingtons]

Geography cannot tell the whole story, few nations have freely deserted thier capital without putting up a tremendous fight. Being next Germany I'm sure didnt help, but hey where the hell did those troops in the 'maginot line' go ?