Sorry france.....but.....

[expat]

Go to www.google.com

Type in "French Military Victories"

Press "I'm feeling lucky"

Click on "Did you mean French Military Defeats?"

Matt

[dcunning30]

Then, when you click on the link for "Did you mean French Military Defeats".........  oh my.  

[Woodlouse2002]

Amazing what you can achieve by choosing your facts carefully. And Albinoblacksheep really need to update that page. Google has changed it's look since they did that.

[Hagar]

Amazing what you can achieve by choosing your facts carefully.

For example: The French Contribution to the American War of Independence

[dcunning30]

For example: The French Contribution to the American War of Independence

Good catch.  BTW, are there other examples?

[Hagar]

[quote]Good catch.

[dcunning30]

I'm sure there are if you care to do a search.

I'm not sure there are, that's why I asked.

Considering their contribution to the birth of the nation I never understood the American animosity towards the French.

That was over 225 years ago.  Within the last 5 years, American graves in Normandie have been desecrated because of disagreement with our Iraq policy.  Considering the American blood spilled to liberate the French, I don't understand the French animosity towards the United States.

[Hagar]

I'm not sure there are, that's why I asked.

Try Austerlitz.

[quote]That was over 225 years ago.

[dcunning30]

Try Austerlitz.

Another good catch!  

This is reputed to be Napoleon's greatest tactical victory.  I say tactical because the war of the 4th coalition started just one year later as a result of Napoleon's creation of the Federation of the Rhine.  All this reminds me of Hitler in 1939-1940.  Maybe Hitler studied Napoleon.  Maybe not.  Because it is suggested Austerlitz sowed the seeds of megalomania in Napoleon, and ultimately, we may have Austerlitz to thank for the gift Tchaikovsky has given to the world when he was inspired to compose 1812 Overture after Napoleon's strategic defeat at the hand of the Russians.

[Hagar]

[quote]Maybe Hitler studied Napoleon.

[H]

Maybe Hitler studied Napoleon.  Maybe not.

If he did he made the big mistake of not learning anything from history.

Hitler certainly put an interest in the Bayeux Tapestry. He must have been a slow reader; some of his forces crossed the channel (or fell into it) but never landed other than by crashing or, perhaps, desertion.

8)

[Boomtown Rat]

Try the Battle of Formigny and the Battle of Castillon.

[Felix/FFDS]

I'm sure there are if you care to do a search. Considering their contribution to the birth of the nation I never understood the American animosity towards the French.

While the fighting was going on, the French convinced the American Congress to order the American representatives in Paris, that ALL negotiations with the English had to go through the French, that the Americans would accept whatever treaty/peace the French negotiated, and that it could include a western limit on the new nation.  

The Americans went around the backs of the French and arrived at a negotiation with the English.

-------------------------------------------

After the War, the French were still actively support Jefferson's bids to the Presidency since Jefferson was a Francophile, almost to the point of treason.  IT was only when the French ambassador overstepped his bounds that even Jefferson could not help him out.

The French were actively proposing the toppling of G. Washington in favor of a French led government.

-----------------------------------------------


THere are more examples.....

[Hagar]

THere are more examples.....

Thanks for the history lesson. I thought that a certain General de Gaulle might have been the cause of it.

[H]

Thanks for the history lesson. I thought that a certain General de Gaulle might have been the cause of it.

Perhaps part of a greater continuation of it. "Oui, we'll pay back what we've borrowed" ..."Ahh, our pockets are petit -- we'll pay back part of what we borrowed" ..."Forget it! We won't pay you anything for what we stole!"
Aside from recent 'desertions', I can't really say there's any real animosity towards the French people. Of course, I'm in an area well sprinkled with (Canadian) French descendants, related to some who have French ancestry and born in a town with a French name which lies across the river from a state with a French name.

8)