[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

I have read Rick Atkinson's book. This is told from a limited viewpoint. You did not see that? A classic problem in any history book. If you took the time to explore the military archives you might change your opinion. The facts are there.
Granted that the book has an author. But the original landings coupled with the reality that the French could not see the problems with Germans in their own homeland and thier Generals, well documented siding with a puppet German replacement for the ligitimate government OF THEIR OWN LAND, is a breathtaking oversight on your reading of the history. NO DOUBT that De Gaule was not of that type. The losses at Oran were at the hands of the French. There willful use of force against the very forces that were fighting the invaders of there homeland is foolish. Every Frenchman killed in North Africa by Allied Forces deserved it more than the Germans. They were absolute fools not to see the obvious. This is not the armchair view, it was known that very day buy the Free French Forces. Now those guys were Frenchman to be proud of. This is the fact, not an interpretation.
But you are correct that "it is no surprise there are some very hard feelings by the "Greatest Generation" that may remain today", as it was based on much mis-information, myth and opinions, which just like racism is passed from generation to generation.
I agree in some part but not in others. Those that witnessed the behavior of the Vichey supporters and the colaborators are FULLY justified in their accurate portrail of the Vichey actions. Granted that does not get published or pointed out, that is a ligit claim, but the failure of the French after Dunkirk was remarkable. Ask any Brit. One of the most compelling statements by Churchill was his response to Peton after Peton's declaration that there would be no defense of Paris: Churchill's famous quote "Sir, if you do this, we British will hate you for one thousand years" (or words to that effect). That is not an opinion, but an indictement. Paris exists in its glory, on the backs of the British and their allies, including the Free French.

Every consider how to break that chain of opinion? It starts from facts and presenting those facts to the opinionated masses.

You have a point, but whose facts? Sometimes the masses make a good point.

The Greatest Generation opinions and beliefs are not infallible. Your great, great, great grandfather thought that if you traveled faster than a horse could gallop, your breath would be sucked out of you and you would die.

Maybe so, but is that relavent? France is moving to save itself from the self imposed degradation of the past as it sided with the socialist programs, but if I was going to lay my money on America or France, well I would go with us but I would not abandon the French as they in fact are a large part of who we were, just my opinion.

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