Why did France seems to be a weak Power during WW1 and WW2?

Answer 1

So, Jason, back to the War (History) questions again?
So, how's your love life?
"Why did France appear to be a weak power during the two World Wars?" Here's the question you want to ask.
France held it's own during the Great War, any perception of weakness is false. France had a huge army, an air force and a navy. By the Second World War, France's forces had become dated, and were no longer a match for the Wehrmacht. That is not to say France could not have beaten Italy in an all-out war in 1940.
p.s. For your information - The French Foreign Legion are fighters NOT lovers.
p.p.s. Read this again, "buff", I didn't just say the same as king.

Answer 2

human beings were ill of conflict. So at the same time as Hitler pushed for such issues as Czechoslovakia and rearming, the Allies and the League of countries stated "ok do exactly not start up a conflict.". no longer in user-friendly words that, yet human beings loved Hitler. human beings from all aspects renowned him for having pulled Germany out of the international recession, some thing no different usa had yet executed. Poland, France and all the different eu countries that were taken fell in very few weeks or months. The German military, after its (extra often than not secret) rearming, grew larger and extra efficient than both the British and French armies. in the course of the "calm" area of the conflict (1941-1944) the German army become battling the British army contained in the English Channel, making any important offensive quite puzzling. The Soviets did not connect the conflict, they were further into it. Hitler grew impatient of the problem contained in the Channel, so he attacked the Soviets (which he had till then a treaty with). This second the front gave the Allies some room to breath and manage D-day.

Answer 3

France was actually considered to have the strongest, or second strongest army in Europe in 1914 -- after the Germans. It was supposed to be balanced in their favor with the massive Russian conscript army. And they mostly held their ground during 1914-1918 -- just ask any veteran of the Somme and Verdun, if any are still alive. There was near collapse following the Mutiny of 1917, but Petain ended that.

The French were **not** conquered during the Great War. The poster above who said that is lying just to try to prove something about current world events. It is true that massive American committment to the war raised Allied morale at a dark time, but to say that it was the USA that won World War I on its own, and that it "liberated" France is to lie through your teeth. People who say that should read a history book and stop using high schoolers as a history reference.

At the beginning of World War II, France had a massive army , but the political turmoil from the 1930s permeated and lowered morale. Regardless, and believe it or not, but the French Army of 1940 was more mechanized than the Wehrmacht!

It was poor defensive disposition, poor understanding of the German tactics (improved since their campaign in Poland, which, contrary to popular thought, was not an example of blitzkrieg), combined with low morale, that crushed France in 1940. To say that the French are lovers, not fighters, and that they were all cowards is to be ignorant of history, and is a little short of racism. Not that Americans have never been guilty of it before.

Also, to the people who claim that France "owes" us a favor: since when is France obliged to support USA in Iraq? Last I checked, Paris was the capital of a sovereign state that had its own foreign agenda. They are in no way supposed to assist Washington if it feels that the Iraq War goes against their national interests. Also, do people forget that President Washington broke the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1792-93 and left it on its own against the whole of Europe after France did so much to help the USA gain independence?

Answer 4

ok where should i start?
first Charles DE gaulle was an idiot.

they had better and heavy er tanks than Germany in 1940.
they could have been prepared but did nothing to oppose Hitler when he invaded Poland[that was when he was most vulnerable.].

robert.p is right all the way.

scorpion... just answered the same as k1ing-of-as,shOlles only with more words.

the french are not lovers at all, i suggest you read a french paper and see what sick things they all do. kindness is not one of them.

at least Desiree b is honest.

and finally j.s. again answers the same as k1ng but in even more words so again France,s army was not dated in 1940 only they're way of thinking and the fact that they just stood by and watched Hitler take over.

so to answer your question.
in ww1 they had a lot of help from the Belgians, Brits, Canadians, and yes even the Americans to start with and then with a lot of luck they did stop the Germans.
in ww2 they just did nothing to prevent Hitler from invading Austria
the Sudetenland and some more Small country's and even when he invaded Poland when his whole army was in Poland and his supply route was stretched to the limit the french and Brits did nothing. even earlier when he was putting together his army which he was not allowed to according to rules set after ww1. they just said "well maybe after Poland he will stop and leave us alone" so they didn't seem weak they just where. and if you ask me they still are.

warren 151: your way off.

Answer 5

In World War I the Anglo-Franco alliance held the German, Austrian, and Hungarian triumverate to a stalemate.
Before World War II the French army was considered one of the best, if not the best in Europe.The Germans were able to defeat them because the French were still fighting using strategy from the previous world war. The Germans changed their strategy and developed different tactics --which came to be called Blitzkrieg.

P.S.Tankbuff we both answered the same because we are both right. I, unlike you do not need anyone's input to formulate an answer.

Answer 6

Outdated military equipments, thinking, and tactics.

France didn't do too bad in WWI.

They simply were not prepared, in any way, for Hitler's overwhelming, mechanized, blitz assualt.

Answer 7

Because they were overrun and conquered by Germany in both wars. The French today seem to have forgotten that it was the United States who liberated their country both times, and they continue to be a thorn in the side of this President who is doing his best to fight terrorism.

Chow!!

Answer 8

Because the French are lovers, not fighters.

Too many people mistake kindness for weakness.

Gee - Isn't it sad that the whole world can't follow suit?

.

Answer 9

Because they ARE weak by nature! France couldn't and wouldn't take a firm position on ANYTHING!...

Answer 10

ask charles de gaulle!