“The Most Christian King.” That seems like braggadocio, doesn’t it? It reminds me of a story about the member of an obscure Catholic order who said, “We may be small, but in humility we’re tops.” Actually, the title “Most Christian King” was given to the kings of France. Considering the less than admirable conduct of […]
French Army on Parade in 1939 Here I write a cautionary tale about the destruction of a fine army and the ignominious collapse of a proud nation. It is the story of France, 1940. Parts of the story I have told before. This is a more complete account of the events leading up to May-June […]
When France entered World War 2 the number of men available for military service was far fewer that it had been in 1914. Also, the height, weight, and general physical health of enlistees was less than it had been 25 years earlier. The great bloodbath of 1914-18 had taken its toll. The best and brightest […]
1914 (Note: This post is only for those with an interest in military history. In it I describe cataclysmic events in the summer of 1914 when western civilization rushed into war, a war that tore Europe apart and left a terrible legacy that continues to exercise a malevolent influence on our world today. I wrote […]
Eighty years ago, on September 1, 1939, World War II began with the German attack on Poland. I told the story of World Wars I & II in my post titled “War and Madness.” Now, on the 80th anniversary of that event, I am publishing more details on World War II’s beginning. After World War […]
In the years leading up to World War I, French military thinkers had wavered back and forth over the best strategy and tactics to employ in the forthcoming struggle with Germany. Most of them were not pushing for conflct, but there was a general feeling that war was inevitable. In 1870-71 France had lost a […]
Paths of Glory was a powerful anti-war motion picture made in 1957. It depicts the horrors of trench warfare in World War I, and it illustrates the dehumanizing effects of warfare. The story describes the travails of members of a French battalion on the front line during the third year of the Great War. The […]
Jordans-Journey 