Another Russian Rewrite of History

[Razgovory]

They were also the first to march into Paris in August 1945. That was some achievement.

Kinda late on that one weren't they?

[Valmy]

In retrospect, you have to wonder why.  I mean, France has no military achievements since Napoleon died.

The Crimean War?  The Austro-French war of 1859?  World War I?  Conquering a huge colonial empire?

Besides the Franco-Prussian War (where they mostly lost due to Prussian know-how, sheer numbers, and leadership blunders than the lack of fighting prowess of their soldiers) they had done pretty well.

But even if you ignore that you have the whole history of Britain never losing a European war going.  That had to give the Poles some confidence.

[Valmy]

Not at all.  WWI was entirely an American victory.

FYP

[Valmy]

Crimea? Magenta? Solferino? Le Marne? Verdun?

Now, if you say France's performance on the battlefield was always extreme, either superb or abysmal, I will have to agree...

They are the military version of the Spanish national soccer team.

[Neil]

In retrospect, you have to wonder why.  I mean, France has no military achievements since Napoleon died.

The Crimean War?

British.

The Austro-French war of 1859?

Beating up the Austrians is a big achievement?

World War I?

Their soldiers gave up, and left the British Empire to win the war alone.

Conquering a huge colonial empire?

Mowing down spearchuckers with Maxim guns is not an achievement.

Besides the Franco-Prussian War (where they mostly lost due to Prussian know-how, sheer numbers, and leadership blunders than the lack of fighting prowess of their soldiers) they had done pretty well.

Ah yes, the old 'lions led by asses' myth that comes up every time someone doesn't do as well as they expected in a war. 

But even if you ignore that you have the whole history of Britain never losing a European war going.  That had to give the Poles some confidence.

Britain never lost a war, but look what happened to their allies.  Prussia was overrun in the Napoleonic wars and was only saved in the Seven Years War by Frederick the Great.  Portugal became a backwater hellhole for centuries, as did Greece.  Russia was destroyed by WWI, and France was forever finished as a Great Power.

[Valmy]

Ah yes, the old 'lions led by asses' myth that comes up every time someone doesn't do as well as they expected in a war. 

Um...I think it is fairly obvious that the officers didn't put the French Army in the best position at times during that war.  But even if they had the sheer lunacy of the situation, outnumbered by the Prussians and their allies about 3 to 1 or more, meant that defeat was all but certain.

Their soldiers gave up, and left the British Empire to win the war alone.

Ok you are either smoking crack or a Jaron/FB level Troll.  This is what I get for talking history with retards.

Seriously you are smarter than this why act like an idiot?

[Darth Wagtaros]

Not at all.  WWI was entirely a British victory.

Dreadnoughts, ftw.

Yes.  And the battlecruisers. Don't forget the battlecruisers.

[Neil]

Ah yes, the old 'lions led by asses' myth that comes up every time someone doesn't do as well as they expected in a war. 

Um...I think it is fairly obvious that the officers didn't put the French Army in the best position at times during that war.  But even if they had the sheer lunacy of the situation, outnumbered by the Prussians and their allies about 3 to 1 or more, meant that defeat was all but certain.

Now, now.  The overall fighting strengths weren't really that far apart, although the French weren't that effective at mobilizing their forces.  Really, I can't argue that the quality of regular troops wasn't that far off, the Prussian veterans of Sadowa and the French veterans of Italy balancing out.  However, when it came to the Landwehr against the Garde Mobile, that was when the differences became enormous.

Besides, the tendency to foist blame for any defeat onto the officer corps and leadership is an annoying trait, especially in a constitutional monarchy like France.  The French lost the Franco-Prussian War just as much because of political decisions made by the legislature.

Their soldiers gave up, and left the British Empire to win the war alone.

Ok you are either smoking crack or a Jaron/FB level Troll.  This is what I get for talking history with retards.

Seriously you are smarter than this why act like an idiot?

Two reasons.  One:  Because there is noone to have an in-depth discussion with.  Two:  Because I find the French cult of the nation to be irritating.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Remember that they were anticipating a re-run of WW1, and were prepared to fight it successfully (given eventually support from France and Britain).  Poland's decision to fight was not as insane as hindsight would have us believe.

Indeed. Also, Poland was not a weak country like many people believe. Surely they were defeated swiftly when the war broke out, but no moreso than France who was widely believed to have the most powerful army in the world at that time.

In retrospect, you have to wonder why.  I mean, France has no military achievements since Napoleon died.

They fought well in WWI.

Not at all.  WWI was entirely a British victory.

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

But in fact Nobody "won" WWI ... It went on too long and they had to stop so that all the nations could spend 20 years growing new young men to die in part 2.

[Neil]

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

The British Empire.

[Razgovory]

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

The British Empire.

Has the British empire ever won a war against a civilized people?

[Neil]

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

The British Empire.

Has the British empire ever won a war against a civilized people?

The Germans.  The French.  If you consider the Americans civilized, they beat them too.  The German-governed Russians.

[Razgovory]

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

The British Empire.

Has the British empire ever won a war against a civilized people?

The Germans.  The French.  If you consider the Americans civilized, they beat them too.  The German-governed Russians.

As civilized as the British?

[Neil]

pfft. I'd include the other confederation countries that fought. Specifically Canada. :canuck:

The British Empire.

Has the British empire ever won a war against a civilized people?

The Germans.  The French.  If you consider the Americans civilized, they beat them too.  The German-governed Russians.

As civilized as the British?

The Germans.  The French.

[Sophie Scholl]

But in fact Nobody "won" WWI ... It went on too long and they had to stop so that all the nations could spend 20 years growing new young men to die in part 2.

You could a case that the United States "won" the war.  They went from after thought in the global scene compared to the elite European players to damn near top dog due to their now massive skilled labor advantage and their new found financial and military power.