France Falls May - June 1940 (Part 3/5)

[MebefromBelgium]

The French and British were incredibly stupid, while Belgium was preparing for war since 1936, by using nearly all it's revenues to buy modern equipment and build fortifications and figuring out the exact German battle plan (Belgian intelligence predicted the German advance trough the Ardennes to crush the allies at the coast) plus they chaired that information with the French and the latter did nothing.

[StaffanGoldschmidt]

Where is Reems?

[faerials]

Reims is in Champagne! Famous for his champagne!!!

[GeneralmotorsMHM]

@kenramonet thank you good little speech.

[kenramonet]

what to say about the BATTLE of france? it was a BATTLE and not a WAR. the french made grievous errors, but with de gaulle leading the free french and an active maquis in metropolitan france, the nation fought and did so with distinction. a large french army was there when overlord and anvil were launched and it fought all the way to berlin. french haters forget that. if france didn't pull its weight in the war, rest assured it wouldn't have been one of the 4 occupying powers in germany.

[joshvn715]

So slow, indecisive, meek, it is incredible to think that Germany did not attack the "powerful" French. They simply did not want war and were greatly prepared to welcome the once hated Germans to avoid it-- AND just like that after centuries and centuries of French rule their time was up. :(

[joshvn715]

But Lee was beaten, Atlanta razed to the ground and he simply gave up a hopeless war.

The U.S recognized Vichy and not DeGaulle because they knew how little fortitude the French had to possibly stand alone. The only way U.S could undermine Vichy was to do it THEMSELVES, no could depend on the French.

[Fridomfry]

Still very similar: In June 1940, the French army was beaten with severe losses, Dunkirk and other cities razed to the ground, while the British pulled out and the US watched idle: The new cabinet (Pétain) simply gave up a hopeless war, declared by light-minded politicians. A bitter decision for the country which had won at Verdun, but there was hardly another option except collective suicide.

[Fridomfry]

Most French would agree with what you write. Your description of the Americans who'd have fought regardless of casualties applies perfectly to the French of 1914-1918. Then, with 1,5 M deads, crippled veterans in every family, a lame political regime, and another 100,000 killed in 5 weeks, they collapsed. Remember that Lee surrendered his Army to Grant at Appomattox, and came to regret it. Some similarity.

[Fridomfry]

As for the Soviets, they had an immense country and its winter, and still surrendered by millions.

Remark: A minority of French soldiers and civilians decided to fight on, under De Gaulle. A long-lasting problem between our two countries is that the US recognized Vichy and never supported De Gaulle, who just represented Honor.

[Camarale]

Typical comments there, coming from people who never experienced wars on their soil. Really funny. For Europeans, wars were reality, not films or TV news.

[randy95023]

In '39 the Polish forces put up powerful defense and did a LOT of damage to the Wehrmacht before their defeat. Compared to the Poles the French were defeatist from the opening days and appeared happy to surrender once they knew the Germans had outflanked their main forces. Had the French stood and fought for just a few months the Germans would have needed to recuperate before attacking the USSR. Germans would have waited until '42 to "head east".

French should have stood and fought...

[Fridomfry]

That's easy to write from behind a computer, Sir. You might wonder why Britain had been all for appeasement until late 1938, and why your own country stood neutral : Very understandably, because none in our democracies wanted to start a new bloodshed like 20 years before. The French were exactly in the same mood, only they happened to be on the 1st line. Collapsing after 5 weeks of combat was shameful, but who did best then? It took the Brits only 2 weeks to go back home (Dunkirk).

[randy95023]

Fridomfry- I'll concede your point on the attitude of the western allies going into WW2. It's just I've always had a gut feeling that if the Nazis had invaded America we would not have surrendered in 5 or 6 weeks. I think the Americans would have hunkered down and fought regardless of casualties until we were COMPLETELY defeated. Remember what the Soviets did; they were "defeated" in about 5 weeks but didn't surrender. They continued fighting through horrendous losses. The French, did not...

[TheBelovedButterfly]

@randy95023 You don't know that you would - you have never been in the position of having been decimated (land, industries, and housing destroyed, half of all your males dead or disabled) only 20 years before. You were a VERY late arrival to WW1 and don't know the effect it had. Also, "The French" did not surrender - they fought from bases in Britain, and resisted. They are not responsible for the decisions of their politicians, any more than you are.

[TheBelovedButterfly]

@randy95023 Russia can't be compared to France - Russians use their landscape against invaders, and they were led by a lunatic with no regard for the lives of his people. It would also have helped European morale during the 30s if, instead of financing Hitler to build a war machine, and then sitting on the fence for 2 years, America had backed France in obtaining reparations. General Motors, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Manhatten Bank, Henry Ford...all gave massive hand-outs to Hitler.

[Rico8458]

i thought rommel was the first to reach dunkirk?

[gdbalck]

There's some inaccuracies here. The Meuse was crossed at Sedan, but Guderian was the leader of the corps that forced the break through. More accurately, the 2nd Panzer Division's motorized infantry regiment, under Herman Balck, forced the crossing over a bridge on the north side of Sedan. Romel didn't cross till a the following day, at Dinant.

[crocfme]

"The Germans won't come through the Ardennes."

They did in ww1.

They did in 1940.

They did in 1944.

If theres ever another war in Europe, someone should keep an eye on the Ardennes I think.

[Ritter476]

Does anyone know the name of the march at 9:20?

[nemo1620]

At the start of WW II, each of the Allies KNEW they would be attacked, yet they were repeatedly surprised: France in 1940, Russia by operation Barbarossa, the US at Pearl Harbor, ...

[alexkrycek21]

The way they portrayed the Ardennes at the begining was really creepy.

[LoveKandR]

Germans did a surprise attack, (sound familiar???) and everyone here is attacking the French and British - go figure.

[bogota2003]

I detect of the narrator a slight pleasure in poking fun at the hapless French army...however, good Sir Oliver fails to do justice to the performance of the British army....equally ineptly led....as an American, I can't also resist tweaking the French but the British army hasn't defeated any legitimate opposing army in over 200 years....I suggest you Brits stick to what you have perfected...getting other peoples to do the fighting for you. Oh, yea ...Fuck the Queen.

[Fridomfry]

Well, the British in 1939 certainly expected the French army to do most of the job, and sent only a token force. Yet, once they were left alone against the Nazi beast, they pondered for a while about suing for peace, then went for total war, and did it jolly well. When the US joined the war, much later, they were pretty glad to benefit from British war experience and instructors.

[harrycool69]

Camarale: stop taking out your anger via youtube comments, seek help.

[Camarale]

Most of the French and Europeans don't give a shit of your WORTHLESS MONGREL FAKE PLACE. Bunch of bankrupted losers under Zionist domination.FUCK USA,LAND OF THE PIGS.THE TOP COWARDS CRYBABIES ON EARTH.

[IanHunedoara8]

How typical! Siting in your cafe on the Seine and passing snotty comments. Go sniff up a truffle, trot along now...

[Camarale]

It's virtually the SOLE IMPORTANT EVENT OF YOUR LITTLE 200 YEARS SHABBY HISTORY.THESE ANTIQUE BULLSHITS MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANYMORE IN EUROPE FOR PEOPLE UNDER 75.LOSERS.

[Camarale]

We understand why you always bore us with this antique crap of WW2.

[Camarale]

You know to make war only by dropping bombs from 15000 feets.lOOK AT THE SITE FRANCE USA,AN OBJECTIVE COMPARISON,ON YOU TUBE,AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE FRENCH THINK OF YOUR WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT COUNTRY FULL OF OBESE BRAINLESS PIGS.

[Camarale]

Thanks your air force who saved your asses in WW2.Your pussies would have been crushed like others,during the German blietzrieg.lIKE YOU WERE IN kASSERINE PASS OR IN THE BULGES.Bunch of supermarket junk cowboys.

[Camarale]

Always the same CRAPS,frustrated loser.Your piece of shit country without heritage is a JOKE,ASSHOLE. French army could give war lessons to your whining crybabies pussies marijuana smokers in Vietnam.TRASH.

[dog123903]

camarale, you ought to just review this "you tube" you're writing all your shit on. The proof of how courageous and brilliant the french were is RIGHT here in the film. My god, does France SUCK!! Totally worthless.

[Camarale]

French MIRAGE jet fighters + French EXOCET missiles. A good coktail for US pigs.

[dog123903]

you are a disgusting little cockroach who lives in a second rate hole that is weak and cowardice. You cannot defend a country that was over run in WEEks in 1940. i don't care about your history and your shit culture. No one wants france as an ally because they have nothing to offer but cowardice. You are a typical frog who thinks he is much more important than he is. France is insignificant. no one cares.

[spacesoviet59]

Us soldiers fighting in Afghanistan with frenches got a different opinion, how dare you judge the frenches in 1940? They were alone against the mighty german power, german casualties were quite important, the french soldier did a heroic sacrifice, only the generals were bad.

[yurgy1]

spacesoviet, the french-british could have crushed the germans but like lions commanded by sheeps they over-slept till it was to late, yes Daladier-Chamberlain have to be blamed for ww2 as much as the nazis since they had the power to stop madman hitler-some prussian aristicratic generals even orffered to putsch(coup-militaire) against the low-live nazis, but brits-french both refused

[spacesoviet59]

your right, i would add that the early ww2 was a critical moment for France, political clashes, no long governments, swapping every day, sometimes every hours.

[Camarale]

39 US turds turned in heat and light tasted the French technology,little US insignifiant and ignorant brainwashed shithead.

[Camarale]

Concerning missiles,do you remember your USS frigate STARK pulverized by 2 French exocet missiles,launched by 2 French Iraqui jet fighters in the persian gulf in 1987 ?

[dog123903]

do you remeber Waterloo, pussy? Long live Britain !!

[Camarale]

France=pussies is equivalent to USA=incult obese pigs.France was the dominant power in Europe for centuries when your fake mongrel place was still populated by cactus and NativeAmericans.

[Camarale]

French commandos or paratroopers could give war lessons to your pussies crybabies crushed like shit in Iraq.You know to make war,only by dropping bombs from 15000 feets.

[Camarale]

Your pussies would have been crushed like others during the German blietzrieg.Russians lost 5 million prisoners in the hands of Wehrmacht in 1941/42.

[Camarale]

US army was a joke in 1940.ASSHOLE.

[Camarale]

Travel outside your redneck shithole,little US ignorant shithead.Prestige of France is 10000 times higher than your fake place without roots and history.

[Camarale]

France = pussys in your dreams,dumb US brainwashed shithead.

[Camarale]

In case you don't know,France is the first touristic destination of the world with 80 million visitors,each year.Not that bad for weak arrogant morons,bunch of fucking frustrated jealous bastards.

[ZeroCracks]

Camarale..seriously man, stop trying to defend France, you cant, its literary impossible. This is the internet, and on the internet when you say "france" people automatically think "PUSSY'S"...now stop trying to use "time" as a excuse to show frances power, we do not care if it had a strong military 150 years ago. That was when there was no missiles or satellites, it was easy to control the world then if you had the man power. And trust me, France is the last country to be jealous about.

[Camarale]

I understand that years of brainwashing are difficult to erase from your poor weak brain.But the facts are the facts.You don't even realize that most of the earth vomit you.A big majority of the French are disgusted by your fake place.

[Camarale]

But we understand why you always talk about these WWS. It's virtually the sole important events of your little shabby history.France military history through 1500 years is one of the most glorious,if not the most of the world.All the true historians know this.Bunch of fucking jealous bastards.

[Camarale]

Save our asses in WW1 ? pathetic.Your mean little contribution for the last 6 months of this war was a joke compared to French casualties. For WW2,thanks rather the Soviets.

[Camarale]

Prestige of France is 10000 times higher than your fake place without history and heritage.France was the dominant power in Europe for centuries,when your fake place was still populated by cactus and Native Americans.

[Camarale]

The planet perceive the French as arrogant weak morons ? In your dreams,asshole.

[Camarale]

I could ask you the same question,mean US brainwashed shithead.Where was during WW1 and 2 ? What US assholes knows about wars,except in movie theaters ?

[Camarale]

I always appreciate comments coming from US brainwashed impotent rednecks about the French in WW2.What these assholes knows about wars,except in movie theaters ?USIANS,the MOST IGNORANT PRICKS ON EARTH.

[dog123903]

where were you during the war, you piss ant??

fuck heads like you is why the planet perceives the french as weak arrogant morons, who depended on the rest of the free world to save their ass in the 40's and in WWI.

[Camarale]

French casualties were 100000 killed in May/June 1940. The maginot line troops annihilated all the German divisions who attacked there.French forces also destroyed 1400 German planes and covered the British retreat in Dunkirk.Thanks the Channel who saved Britton asses.

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[BritishWoadWarrior]

At Dunkirk ordinary people in little dinghys and rowing boats and anything they could get there hands on came over from britain, and saved hundreds of thousands of troops trapped on the beach

[rnoldc]

french = cowards!

[eric21ofthewest]

the documentary was designed to show you that reality is a little bit more complex than that. But you are free to prefer stupid equations if they make you happy.

[rnoldc]

sorry to say that. but im just telling the truth.

French was so easily defeated. French military outnumber the german military hardware and men. Its amazing how they didnt fight at all and it puzzles many why they dont have the COURAGE TO FIGHT DESPITE FRENCH ARMY AND MILITARY ADVANTAGE!

[TheBelovedButterfly]

@rnoldc you = wanker!

[comradejim177]

Where you from, son? Cos it's easy to be brave on the internet.

The French resisted. They fought behind enemy lines. I'll bet money you've never done anything 1/10th that ballsy. Cock-end.

[BritishWoadWarrior]

If it wasn't for those guys we would have been truly fucked

[BritishWoadWarrior]

I'm half French but all i can say is thank god for the anglo-american heroes who helped liberate us(and don't forget the countries of the commonwealth).Thank you

[BritishWoadWarrior]

how come (according to Camarale) the French lost almost as many men as the British, when the French only fought for 5 weeks and the British fought for over 5 years?

[eatmyshitbitchh]

My name is Camarale I am a degenerate French psychopath garbage living N a padded room. I love 2 eat Stinky cock-roachs. Noxious scum ridden vermin like me were gassed 65 years ago. I live N a fake place full of obese brainless French fat pigs. The USA is the best country. I am French Collaborator + my fellow French pigs brothers have already been wiped because I informed the Germans. I am proud 2 get on my knee's + give every German a blow job while Humming Uber Alles Deutcheland .

[daltonagre]

French people decided not to fight.The communist sent the workers to strikes and all soldiers to surrender.