For a long time in the English-speaking world the French military has been regarded as a bit of a joke. Words and phrases like “defeatism”, “Maginot LIne”, “red trousers” and “cult of the offensive” get bandied about. The more I study the subject - and I by no means claim to be an expert - the less I believe this. It seems to me that in the Second World War the French army was quite good, just unlucky. In the First it was pretty bad but not for the reasons we think.
In the course of our conversation we cover Napoleon and, of course, Hitler, the German preparations for war, the fall of empire, American independence, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, American anti-Americanism, the break-up of successful coalitions, French art and the move from war to watercolours, Emmanuel Todd, counter-factual history.
Notes
The problem with tanks
The Labour Budget: Don't hold your breath
Why is America saying "no" to the Japanese?
Give them the money!
Mussolini wins
Farcical sentences
Trams in Trouble
Week Ending 23 March 1924
Week Ending 16 March 1924
Week Ending 9 March 1924
Week Ending 2 March 1924
Week Ending 24 February 1924
Week Ending 17 February 1924
Communist Russia, Tram Cars and the Gold Standard
A Dive into the Times and Life of Woodrow Wilson
Week Ending 27 January 1924
Week Ending 20 January 1924
Three weeks Ending 13 January 1923
The World a Hundred Years Ago
Week Ending 23 December 1923
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Lore