Table of Contents
Why was France beaten so easily in WW2?
France suffered a humiliating defeat and was quickly occupied by Germany. Its failure was a result of a hopelessly divided French political elite, a lack of quality military leadership, rudimentary French military tactics.
Why did the French not fight in WW2?
France surrendered to the Nazis in 1940 for complex reasons. Instead of fleeing the country and keeping up the fight, as the Dutch government and a residue of the French military did, the bulk of the French government and military hierarchy made peace with the Germans.
How strong was the French army in WW2?
In 1939 the French Army had 900,000 regular soldiers. However, it another 5 million men who had been trained and could be called-up in time of war. After war was declared the vast majority of the army, 100 divisions, were stationed on the frontier facing Germany.
What was worse to fight in WW1 or WW2?
World War Two was FAR worse. WW1 caused a lot of deaths, and a lot of horrific effects of new weaponry, but I argue that it wasn’t truly a global war. The West and Far East and Africa weren’t really involved enough for it to be one. Make no mistake, WW1 was rough, but it was nothing compared to WW2.
Did the French fight in ww1?
During World War I, France was one of the Triple Entente powers allied against the Central Powers.
Did the French lose ww1?
Between 20 August and 27 August 1914, the French army lost 40,000 men, 27,000 of which were killed on 22 August alone. Losses between 16 April and 25 April 1917 amounted to approximately 30,000 killed….The delicate management of the number of troops↑
| War years | Losses recorded |
|---|---|
| 1917 | 164.000 |
| 1918 | 235.000 |
What happened to French soldiers in ww2?
French POWs were sent to camps in Germany where they were quickly set to work on farms, in industry, mines and on the railways, to replace German men away fighting. But, most prisoners – about one million – only returned to France following the end of the war in May 1945.
Did the French army fight in ww2?
They fought battles all over the world from 1940 to 1945, and sometimes fighting against each other. These forces were composite, made of rebel factions and colonial troops; France controlled a large colonial empire, only third to the British empire.
How many British soldiers were killed in WW1?
(sources and details of figures are provided in the footnotes)
| Nation | Population (millions) | Combat deaths and missing in action (included in total military deaths) |
|---|---|---|
| Allies and co-belligerents of World War I | ||
| United Kingdom (and Colonies) | 45.4 | 744,000 |
| Sub-total for British Empire | 380.0 | 953,104 |
| Belgium | 7.4 | 38,170 |
Did more soldiers died in WW1 or WW2?
More than one million British military personnel died during the First and Second World Wars, with the First World War alone accounting for 886,000 fatalities. Nearly 70,000 British civilians also lost their lives, the great majority during the Second World War.
Who did France fight in ww2?
France and Britain declared war on Germany when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. After the Phoney War from 1939 to 1940, within seven weeks, the Germans invaded and defeated France and forced the British off the continent. France formally surrendered to Germany.
Why did France fight in ww1?
France was bound by treaty to defend Russia. Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia due to the Black Hand’s assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, which acted as the immediate cause of the war. France was brought into the war by a German declaration of war on August 3, 1914.
How hard did the French fight in WW1?
The French fought hard. Their major combat operations were largely ineffective because their manpower and resources were depleted from WWI, and the blitzkrieg was not something that anyone was really ready to defend against, much less the people who took the brunt of the suffering in WWI. How much suffering are we talking about exactly?
Why did France have several regular and irregular armies during WW2?
France had several regular and irregular army forces during World War II; this was partially due to a major geopolitical change.
Were the French mentally prepared for WW2?
No, the French were not mentally prepared for the war. At the time that the Nazis attacked they were allied with the Russians. So the French Communists were not real keen on fighting. At the same time there was a feeling among French conservatives that the British had pressured them into war.
What happened to French prisoners of war after WW2?
After the French armies surrendered, Germany seized 2 million French prisoners of war and sent them to camps in Germany. About one third were released on various terms. Of the remainder, the officers and noncommissioned officers were kept in separate camps and did not work. The privates were sent out to work.