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75 years ago today - Love and Honor - 05-10-2015 09:52 PM
Though it doesn't get as much attention in the USA because (1) it's of a negative nature and (b) it did not involve the USA, one of the most stunning episodes of the entire 20th century began 75 years ago today. One of the greatest militaries in the world with some of the most advanced defenses in the world was invaded, only to be defeated in a mere 46 days. La Debacle is one of the most fascinating episodes of history to me, and I have read nearly a dozen books on the topic. Historians still cannot agree on how it all came to pass, but they can agree it was stunning. Tonight I am going to begin reading General Beaufre's book on the topic; though he was not involved I expect a pro-French spin.
http://www.amazon.com/1940-France-General-Andr%C3%A9-Beaufre/dp/B0006BQQOW
If anyone is interested, the best accounts I'v read are:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sixty-Days-That-Shook-France/dp/B0007DM7YW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431296111&sr=1-2&keywords=60+days+that+shook+the+west
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lose-Battle-France-1940/dp/0141030658/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431296149&sr=1-3&keywords=alistair+horne
However, if you want to understand the whole, rotten political mess which led up to La Debacle, including an outstanding account of the military operations, here is what you read:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collapse-Third-Republic-Inquiry-France-ebook/dp/B00OSCE7RI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431296333&sr=1-1&keywords=collapse+of+the+third+republic