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"Roderick S. Beck" (rodbeck@erols.com) wrote: 3A58A5FE.228893E5@erols.com > Chris, > > The simple fact is that the French are so proud that it is difficult for them > to admit the truth about who liberated France. De Gaulle created a myth about > himself to ensure his place in the pantheon of French heros. > > Chris wrote: > > > You, the Americans, say anything. You are too proud that your fathers > > and grandfathers freed all Europe during the World War II. You are not > > the only ones, French freed well a part of France, specially the South, > > where raise many monuments in the glory of the French Free Forces. > > > > The French Resistance was essential in the Liberation of France, it made > > all the sabotages and the information, very indispensable to the allies. > > During the war, most of the French were for the Resistance and were very > > angry against the French government. Without the Resistance, it would be > > the Russians who get out the corpses of the failed landing at the D-Day ! > > > > This is nonsense. The French resistance was indeed very valuable, but to claim > it made the difference is an exaggeration. The German forces were spread too > thin to prevent a successful invasion. The Allied Forces has control of both > the air and see and they successfully fooled the Germans into believing that > Normandy was not the landing area. > > > > > With regard to the Russians, the Americans had an almost easy war. The > > main part of the German forces (many Panzer divisions) was concentrated > > in the Russian front. The German forces parked in France served only for > > the defence, with the collaboration of the French government to take > > charge of the cleaning of the "terrorists". The only thing where I > > admire the American power, it is the Pacific war. > > That is absolutely. The Russians were crucial because they tied down the German > army. But note. I never claimed the Americans had a tough war. I was merely > pointing French mythology. > > > > > > > Consider that Charles de Gaulle is a myth is false, he did many efforts > > to reorganize the Resistance with Jean Moulin and create an French Free > > army with the officers who refuged in England. For the French, he was a > > liberator, for the Americans and English, he was a liar, because the > > Americans wanted to govern France at the end of the war. > > That issue is minor. France would have had free elections in any case. De > Gaulle also wanted to govern France. His focus was on securing his own power. > De Gaulle was a very power hungry politician doing what all politicians do. > > > > > > > > A precision : French did not lose the first World War. They resisted to > > German during 4 years, German did not succeed in taking Paris. The come > > of the Americans, the Canadians and the English allowed to the French to > > push away the Germans who capitulated, but Germany was not invaded > > during this war. And it is not the only Americans who won ! > > Of course, France did not lose the First World War. But they did depend heavily > on British and American support and the war was only won when American forces > led the charge. > > And the French completely ruined the peace by asking for unreasonable economic > reparations that paved the way for the rise of fascism and Hitler in Germany. > > > > > > > I hope that your pride does not blind you, it was your pride which made > > lose you the Vietnam war. You would say that you are retired before the > > end of the war, it has no sense, you failed at your mission ("to calm" > > the North of Vietnam) and did not manage to push away the North Vietnamese. > > What about French pride? When I was taking the EuroStar to London one day from > Paris, a French businesswoman said to me that the French are the most arrogant > people in the world. > > I never supported the Vietnam war. Neither the US or France had any right being > there. > > - R. > > > > > > > Chris77