thinking of France, what comes to your mind?

[Zebra]

good food and good wines

eg Baguettes and Pinot noir and cheese

 

[Zebra]

frogs

 

[shockedcanadian]

 

[westwall]

good food and good wines

eg Baguettes and Pinot noir and cheese

Sophie Marceau.

 

[JWBooth]

Surrender monkeys
Unreliable automobiles
Overrated food and wine
Insufferable service.
The Riviera

Why are trees grown close to the roads in France?
So the Wehrmacht can march to Paris in the shade.

 

[rightwinger]

Why are trees grown close to the roads in France?
So the Wehrmacht can march to Paris in the shade.

What is the best way to identify French Soldiers?


Sunburned Armpits

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Carmen

 

[JWBooth]

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me."
General George Patton

 

[Deadstick]

I like France and many of the people the Countryside the food etc, some people slag off the French for collaborating with the Nazi occupation, but that was not everyone in France, there was the Vichy Regime who did, but there were thousands in the resistance and the free French forces based in Britain on D-Day many landed on the beaches some were killed i have seen their graves, and De Gaulle was a French Patriot who fought on, some in the UK like to think if the Nazis had occupied us many would have acted in a different way i don't believe that.

 

[shockedcanadian]

What is the best way to identify French Soldiers?


Sunburned Armpits

No one said this during WWI though.

It's complicated. Germany attacked them via the one route no one expected them to. The top military brass in France refused to believe it even possible to attack through the thick woods, they had little to no defense as they couldn't have expected them to attack through the woods (and arrogantly has NO plan if it did occur). They always assumed the attack would arrive through Belgium for which they were quite prepared.

The worst case scenario is that the French military were split due to the unexpected entry location of the Germans. Which lead to the Dunkirk rescue from Britain (many of these French soldiers fought along side the British, others returned to France to fight under weakened French command).

The Blitz was in full force at this point and the shock by the French leaders lead to the quick collapse of morale (De Gaulle leaving and being a long distance cheerleader of defiance).

It also certainly helped the German soldiers focus and longevity of the task that they were amped up on meth for that invasion. This was basically them playing baseball on juice.

Also, the French had the strongest civilian resistance force in all of the occupied countries after they were occupied.

All of the above are facts. France fell so quickly that Stalin was basically paralyzed with fear when Russia was attacked, if not for U.S resources and weapons, the millions sent out like fodder to die, and of course the winter; we might all be living in a very different world today.

I think some in the French military get a bad rap when they had been fighting valiantly against the British military for centuries. Do some research on the 100 Year War as just one example, especially at the tail end of that century long war where the mighty British were pushed out.

Then of course, there are the Napoleon years in which a rag tag military became a global military super power. All Napoleon had to do was counter what he learned in military academy knowing precisely how his adversaries would fight, and inspire the poor to fight for France. That is the difference between WWII and Napoleons reign, strong leadership and tacticians, of which Napoleon may go down as the best in history.

The British and French had a very long stretch of military dominance that expanded across the globe. That period in which France was shocked with the German attack has resonated unfortunately for them (and they had German collaborators like all European nations at the time).

I get the joking of the French but it wasn't due to the average soldiers lack of courage or fight, it was poor, even arrogant leadership. France is not the only nation who has suffered from that.

 

[JohnDB]

 

[gtopa1]

€1 wine in France is really really bloody awful!!! lol

The Battlefields, wife's Uncle buried in Commonwealth War Grave in Paris, The Loire is amazing, AND A FIVE POUND TENT THAT SURVIVED A WILD STORM AND KEPT DOZENS DRY DURING THE HEIGHT OF IT. This one is almost the same; strong a frame as any I have seen.

https://h7.alamy.com/comp/2BM6KW5/original-french-70s-raclet-frame-tent-6-berth-family-camping-with-classic-retro-style-for-family-camping-and-summer-holidays-kent-uk-2BM6KW5.jpg

Camping in Saint Aignan, France Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: Camping in Saint Aignan, France - 2C0PF83 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

www.alamy.com

Greg

 

[Polishprince]

Always loved French cuisine, dishes like French Fries and French toast have a lot to say for them.

 

[Zavulon]

"The Second Ukraine". One of the next targets for denazification.

 

[rightwinger]

Always loved French cuisine, dishes like French Fries and French toast have a lot to say for them.

Like the way they kiss

 

[Deadstick]

View attachment 1110759

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View attachment 1110760
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This image is a monument to three french soldiers who were killed on Sword Beach landing with the British they were from a Commando

€1 wine in France is really really bloody awful!!! lol

The Battlefields, wife's Uncle buried in Commonwealth War Grave in Paris, The Loire is amazing, AND A FIVE POUND TENT THAT SURVIVED A WILD STORM AND KEPT DOZENS DRY DURING THE HEIGHT OF IT. This one is almost the same; strong a frame as any I have seen.

https://h7.alamy.com/comp/2BM6KW5/original-french-70s-raclet-frame-tent-6-berth-family-camping-with-classic-retro-style-for-family-camping-and-summer-holidays-kent-uk-2BM6KW5.jpg

Camping in Saint Aignan, France Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: Camping in Saint Aignan, France - 2C0PF83 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

www.alamy.com

Greg

This monument is to three French commandos from the Kieffer Commndo who landed with the British on Sword Beach and were killed on D-Day. the other pic is two of the Kieffer Commandos in Ouistreham near the Casino where there was heavy combat in the streets

 

[Zebra]

coffee

 

[TheInfiniteSadness]

Filipino women

 

[JohnDB]

€1 wine in France is really really bloody awful!!! lol

One of the restaurants I was a chef in (one of many...the exec was a Micheline) took a wine buying trip every year to Europe with the bulk of the time and purchases spent in France. (We used a third party importer)

They visited a LOT of places and drank a LOT of wine. Suffice it to say we imported $40,000-80,000 worth of wine each year to store in our wine cellar. Which we would sell for at least twice what we paid (usually more)
But we carried unique vintages and wines to go with $80/plate dinners. At those kinds of prices in the '90's....you really don't care that much about what dinner cost.
People usually bought either $40 bottles or $400 bottles of wine. Sometimes $4,000 bottles.

Once got a taste of $20,000 bottle of wine. Very good. Bottled during Napoleon's reign. The patron sent a $4,000 glass back to the kitchen for the chefs. We were very appreciative as most don't know or care.

I'm not one to spend that kind of money on wine. And where the wine was full of flavors and character....still not inclined. Great wine can be had around $75-$125/bottle. Good for considerably cheaper. But it takes some looking.

I don't drink much anymore. It's been a resolution to try but I've just been too busy to do so.

 

[rightwinger]

I'm not one to spend that kind of money on wine. And where the wine was full of flavors and character....still not inclined. Great wine can be had around $75-$125/bottle. Good for considerably cheaper. But it takes some looking.

I drink box wine
Nuthin better