France's Failed 1939 Invasion of Germany | Animated History

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Sources:
Military History not Visualized. “France Attacks 39: German Assessment of the Saar Offensive 1939.” KZread video, 12:01. March 15, 2022. • France Attacks 39: Ger... .
Carswell, Richard. The Fall of France in the Second World War: History and Memory (Germany: Springer International Publishing, 2019).
CLARK, ALLEN F. “Operations in Belgium and France 1939-40.” The Military Engineer 33, no. 191 (1941): 368-373. www.jstor.org/stable/44693245.
Cornwell, Peter D. The Battle of France: Then and Now (United Kingdom: After the Battle, 2008).
Horne, Alistair. To Lose a Battle: France 1940 (United Kingdom: Penguin Books Limited, 2007), 121.
Kiesling, Eugenia C. “‘If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It’: French Military Doctrine Between the World Wars.” War in History 3, no. 2 (1996): 208-23. www.jstor.org/stable/26004549.
Shirer, William L. Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany. United States: RosettaBooks LLC, 2011.
Shirer, William L. The Collapse of the Third Republic: An Inquiry Into the Fall of France in 1940 (Germany: RosettaBooks, 2014).
Vauvillier, Francois., Sumner, Ian. The French Army 1939-45 (1) (United Kingdom: Bloomsbury USA, 1998).
Wilkin, Bernard., Williams, Maude. French Soldiers' Morale in the Phoney War, 1939-1940 (New York: Taylor & Francis, 2018).
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  • @TheArmchairHistorian
    @TheArmchairHistorian Жыл бұрын

    Support this channel by checking our NordVPN exclusive deal at nordvpn.com/historyvpn You can try it risk-free thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee! Sign up for Armchair History TV today! armchairhistory.tv/ Promo code: ARMCHAIRHISTORY for 50% OFF Merchandise available at store.armchairhistory.tv/ Check out the new Armchair History TV Mobile App too! apps.apple.com/us/app/armchair-history-tv/id1514643375 play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.uscreen.armchairhistorytv Discord: discord.gg/zY5jzKp Twitter: twitter.com/ArmchairHist

  • @truffings3351

    @truffings3351

    Жыл бұрын

    Hmm

  • @EmojiDE

    @EmojiDE

    Жыл бұрын

    Yo

  • @treybryant7863

    @treybryant7863

    Жыл бұрын

    Can you do a video on the Battle of Warsaw?

  • @C.A._Old

    @C.A._Old

    Жыл бұрын

    France Soldiers did cross German lines or closing lines. And Soldiers says : Who wan't Go Home ? What A Shame idiots still Victorys WW1 Believe it.

  • @davidspencer8373

    @davidspencer8373

    Жыл бұрын

    Like video

  • @expandedhistory
    @expandedhistory Жыл бұрын

    We all heard jokes at the expense of the French. However we must also honor the French soldiers who did fight hard such as Dunkirk. It’s not their fault their leadership was totally incompetent.

  • @EmojiDE

    @EmojiDE

    Жыл бұрын

    France ya mean

  • @demonelf2094

    @demonelf2094

    Жыл бұрын

    Lions and donkeys come to mind but in french. All jokes aside you are correct Expanded History.

  • @user-op8fg3ny3j

    @user-op8fg3ny3j

    Жыл бұрын

    Honour the soldier who cannot choose what conflicts he fights, not the higher ups who declare wars

  • @T779298RA1

    @T779298RA1

    Жыл бұрын

    I don't get your logic. Was their leadership imported from a different country?

  • @AdiKq

    @AdiKq

    Жыл бұрын

    XDDDDDDD shitty Dunkirk and shitted white flag.

  • @adjoftce6547
    @adjoftce6547 Жыл бұрын

    Gamelin was really one of the most incompetent generals during ww2 not only did he ruined France attack during the Saar offensive but he also f*cked up during the battle of France, resulting in having his army surrounded and blocked between Belgium and the Netherlands, sacrificing french reserves and ultimately causing the armistice. If we add to this that he was a defeatist who refused to adapt the French army to modern conflict in the use of tanks, offensive doctrines and aircraft, it's terrifying how he could be in charge of anything, he lost the war on two occasion and almost just by himself. It's really sad that french soldiers who were willing to fight and proved to be effective only to suffer from their incompetent high command.

  • @frankieseward8667

    @frankieseward8667

    Жыл бұрын

    Seriously I don't know what's more disgraceful this or Singapore in 1942.

  • @noobplays-saslow2920

    @noobplays-saslow2920

    Жыл бұрын

    @@frankieseward8667 100% this. World War 2 literally could've ended as it began had the French leadership actually chosen to fight. Germany militarily and economically was weaker than Britain and France, had these nations actually taken the initiative the war would've been just another footnote in European history. Instead it became the most destructive war in the history of anything.

  • @adjoftce6547

    @adjoftce6547

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@frankieseward8667 this because the consequence are far worse, Singapore wouldn't have changed the ongoing of the war but those mistakes really did, losing the offensive and defensive caused the war to be much more worse than it could've been.

  • @delta2372

    @delta2372

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah almost like having your entire military command staff being dominated by senile old men that were already getting on in years by the time of WW1, should have retired or forced to retire after the great war. Had more officers like de gaulle, leclerc, juin and tasingiary been in command (aswell as the french nation actually be willing to fight and not be on the verge of a communist civil war) germany would have been smacked down.

  • @justinb2824

    @justinb2824

    Жыл бұрын

    Single handedly responsible for France's poor military reputation for the last 4 generations.

  • @bangscutter
    @bangscutter Жыл бұрын

    The failed Saarland offensive is the epitome of the saying: "Better for an army of sheep led by a wolf, than an army of wolves led by a sheep."

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    It was Lion! Not wolf. Wolves eat sheeps not lead.

  • @pyrothefriendlyarsonist9195

    @pyrothefriendlyarsonist9195

    Жыл бұрын

    Have an army of lions lead by a dog and they'll die like dogs have an army of dogs lead by a Lion and they'll fight like lions

  • @magni5648

    @magni5648

    Жыл бұрын

    Except that's pretty nonsensical because the French flat-out lacked the capability to push harder. Their own mobilisation system was simply not constructed to support such a fast offensive, so they ended up in front of minefields and fortified positions while their engineers and heavy artillery were still forming up in the depots hundreds of miles away. And they couldn't really throw more troops into it, either. Not without crippling their own mid-long-term mobilisation. That's an unacceptable risk to take, especially when you're the one who has the long-term advantage.

  • @hcolider2817

    @hcolider2817

    Жыл бұрын

    @@alexzero3736 so would a lion, frankly

  • @seneca983

    @seneca983

    Жыл бұрын

    But this is somewhat situational. Sometimes a more cautious stance is in order. Often there is no simple answer to how cautious or aggressive one should be.

  • @benl2140
    @benl2140 Жыл бұрын

    France going into WWI: We must take the offensive at all costs! France going into WWII: Ummm...maybe a little offensive? But nothing too serious.

  • @glamrockbonnie5983

    @glamrockbonnie5983

    Жыл бұрын

    Ww1: they shall not pass Ww2:but they may go around

  • @shenkorte7337

    @shenkorte7337

    Жыл бұрын

    truth

  • @anderskorsback4104

    @anderskorsback4104

    Жыл бұрын

    From the Cult of the Offensive to the Cult of the Trench.

  • @quentinbury5432

    @quentinbury5432

    Жыл бұрын

    @@przemozzify funny 🙄 🙃

  • @forzaa867

    @forzaa867

    4 ай бұрын

    They bleed a lot in WW1 and didn't want a repeat such a short time later

  • @charlessaint7926
    @charlessaint7926 Жыл бұрын

    It wasn't the individual French soldier that failed. Most were patriotic and determined. It was their leaders that failed.

  • @RandomGuy9

    @RandomGuy9

    Жыл бұрын

    So were the Italians. Back then you didn't need a lot of training as a foot soldier. Just bravery and good leaders. The technology wasn't as advanced and complicated as today. The rest is experience.

  • @lorrainemapper7000

    @lorrainemapper7000

    Жыл бұрын

    @Tim Onk bro the french army showed incredible bravery in fighting and were fighting the germans with as much ferocity as the french army in ww1

  • @noidea5984

    @noidea5984

    Жыл бұрын

    @Tim Onk After Sedan breakought nearly all fights were 4v1 (at least), its not their faults if generals were donkeys, get a brain

  • @lahire4943

    @lahire4943

    Жыл бұрын

    @Tim Onk 60,000 killed and 200,000 wounded in 45 days has never been experienced by your country ever.

  • @RandomGuy9

    @RandomGuy9

    Жыл бұрын

    @KKmies But a lot less shorter and simpler. You can teach them the basics of infantry and send them. Most fought with a rifle and basic equipment. You didn't have to train them on night visions, dozens of different small arms and optronics. They also lacked house fighting and other training. Soldiers carried out orders back then. When you're on a mission today you have to think for yourself what is the best way how to finish a mission. Back then you fought in large armies organized by generals that told you to charge the enemy position.

  • @RDSyafriyar
    @RDSyafriyar Жыл бұрын

    "Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide." - Napoleon Bonaparte

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    Motto of my life.

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    I mean, it should be. Because passiveness harmed my life in the past.

  • @Jackuves

    @Jackuves

    Жыл бұрын

    That's me

  • @jobvanhetkaar8848

    @jobvanhetkaar8848

    Жыл бұрын

    @Hitler Loves Anime lol

  • @Theoss-sl1fk

    @Theoss-sl1fk

    Жыл бұрын

    Words to live by

  • @entertainmentbuzz944
    @entertainmentbuzz944 Жыл бұрын

    Napoleon must've been rolling in his grave. Honestly even one of his Marshalls probably could've done the job. Crazy how one nation that was so aggressive, lightning and energetic fighting the entirety of Europe in early 1800s a century later turned very defensive and timid.

  • @olivierschraepen5451

    @olivierschraepen5451

    7 ай бұрын

    Now I'm imagining Davout taking command of an armoured corps. Defeating the Prussians again. It's an interesting thought experiment.

  • @thatonepolishguy3773

    @thatonepolishguy3773

    6 ай бұрын

    It's as if France was neutered after Napoleon

  • @AL-kb3cb

    @AL-kb3cb

    4 ай бұрын

    what do you mean "even one of his marshalls" ? Maybe read about these marshalls, they are unequalled.

  • @francoisdumas6399

    @francoisdumas6399

    4 ай бұрын

    25 if England had not been an island it too would have been defeated in 2 weeks, the English army fled to Dunkirk refusing to embark the French soldiers, it was a Franco-English defeat

  • @leeham6230

    @leeham6230

    4 ай бұрын

    Anybody would have done the same after WW1.

  • @michaelf7093
    @michaelf7093 Жыл бұрын

    The colors of the Polish flag all represent something: Red, for the bravery of her people. White, for the love of their land. And blue, for the loyalty of her allies.

  • @calmdownbeavis7039

    @calmdownbeavis7039

    Жыл бұрын

    Ahhh I see what you did there

  • @henrystrzel928

    @henrystrzel928

    Жыл бұрын

    we dont have blue, but have honor

  • @michaelf7093

    @michaelf7093

    Жыл бұрын

    @@henrystrzel928 indeed

  • @romainmodestie8844

    @romainmodestie8844

    Жыл бұрын

    @@henrystrzel928polish honor, migrate everywhere in Europe and refuse migrants in Poland

  • @kinostrong6724

    @kinostrong6724

    9 ай бұрын

    Na. Red for love & White for bravery

  • @legolas-xu6ou
    @legolas-xu6ou Жыл бұрын

    Makes you wonder what could have been if the French leadership chose to actually fight.

  • @halogen92r-

    @halogen92r-

    Жыл бұрын

    The war would have ended in 1942

  • @AinKrab

    @AinKrab

    Жыл бұрын

    Plan west

  • @saldownik

    @saldownik

    Жыл бұрын

    @@halogen92r- Germany would fall in 1940 max with Soviet backstab

  • @halogen92r-

    @halogen92r-

    Жыл бұрын

    @@saldownik ending in 1940 they wouldn't even have time to betray the Soviets, my guess, is that the Soviets will give aid to them

  • @alexanderballa6152

    @alexanderballa6152

    Жыл бұрын

    @@halogen92r- ehhh maybe? The soviets did not like the nazis AT ALL they invaded and made treatys with them to buy time to recover from the great purges

  • @Remembrance1776
    @Remembrance1776 Жыл бұрын

    To add insult to injury, the average German, for all of their supposed superiority, did have a grudging respect for the French. France had beaten them in WWI and had fought from beginning to end. The German high command knew the risk of their exposed western flank as they focused on Poland. Even a successful occupation of the Rhineland by France might have caused a coup or the fatal split up of German forces.

  • @l.b.7543

    @l.b.7543

    Жыл бұрын

    Germany blew a majority of its ammunition and hardware in Poland. If it was not for the Soviets helping the Germans with supplies; Germany would likely had a protracted war in the battle for France

  • @thatnnoob6109

    @thatnnoob6109

    Жыл бұрын

    @@l.b.7543 which would have ultimately increased the length of WWII by at least another year due to delayed operation Barbarossa.

  • @pyrrusi6070

    @pyrrusi6070

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thatnnoob6109 Or decreased due to possible Soviet Invasion

  • @georgludwigrudolfmaercker5600

    @georgludwigrudolfmaercker5600

    Жыл бұрын

    France did not beat the Germans lmao the American intervention did. If the Americans didn’t join the French army would have continued taking massive casualties and would have mutinied.

  • @california816

    @california816

    Жыл бұрын

    @@georgludwigrudolfmaercker5600 yee.

  • @dan-d8s203
    @dan-d8s203 Жыл бұрын

    In fact, the Germans knew that the French army present at the border was designed for defense. Between 1929 and 1939, there were two opposing currents in France. Some argued that the French army must be ready at any time to undertake an incursion into Germany, others argued that the job of the French army is strictly to defend France. Public opinion and the majority of French politicians were favorable to the second point of view. Anyway, the Germans had enough spies and they knew that even after the French army entered German territory, they had nothing to fear. The French army had practically no chance to quickly advance to Ruhr because this army was not built nor trained for an agressive offensive operation. Unfortunately, the Poles did not know this aspect or, if they knew, they imagined that the mere presence of the French army on German territory would scare Hitler. In fact, Hitler knew more about the French army than many French generals.

  • @willsmithens5529

    @willsmithens5529

    Жыл бұрын

    actually you are wrong on that. the french troops on the german border were designed to intervene in Germany and occupy german territory with high industrial productivity whenever France wanted to, which they also did in the 1920s...

  • @ryanjw15

    @ryanjw15

    Жыл бұрын

    @@willsmithens5529 Wrong again. Tensions leading up to the second world war, especially the Munich Conference, persuaded the French to bolster the Maginot Line as heavily as possible, creating trenches, building forts, etc. The French military was not trained for, nor was it in any position, to mount a full-on offensive against Germany like they were to France. Not to mention Hitler's winning election in 1933 completely kicked out French jurisdiction in the Ruhr... so the idea that French troops were "designed to seize arms industries" kinda just goes down the drain there.

  • @challenjour7907

    @challenjour7907

    7 ай бұрын

    ​@@willsmithens5529akshually🤓🤓

  • @hyperionofhyperness1883

    @hyperionofhyperness1883

    5 ай бұрын

    ah, DUH! he fight them

  • @michaelnurse9089

    @michaelnurse9089

    28 күн бұрын

    This makes more sense.

  • @nickjohnsontx
    @nickjohnsontx Жыл бұрын

    “That’s a question for the alternate historians out there.” Griffen read my mind. I was thinking that Cody would have a field day with that scenario.

  • @imsomewhatcertain1024
    @imsomewhatcertain1024 Жыл бұрын

    Oversimplified: “The French had launched a small invasion into the Saar land (Saar Offensive), but they obtained mostly defensive positions; and after a while, decided to just turn around and call it a day.” Oversimplified, WW2 Oversimplified, Pt. 1

  • @wilbertting9211

    @wilbertting9211

    Жыл бұрын

    I was about to make a reference to this but good to know others watch him.

  • @sunburstshredder

    @sunburstshredder

    Жыл бұрын

    Still cracks me up after all these years

  • @prathyushareddy9404

    @prathyushareddy9404

    Жыл бұрын

    Simple History: The French only took part in a small skirmish in the Saarland with no effect.

  • @aluminium5738

    @aluminium5738

    Жыл бұрын

    I like Oversimplified, but the issue I have with it is well... it's very oversimplified, summing the entire august coup up as the hardliners (GKChP) trying to take over, only for Yeltsin to say "Yeah, but we have a tank" Excuse me? This is why I hope that he never makes a video on say... Chernobyl, a very complicated event that almost nobody understands the full extent and truth of (Thanks to HBO retelling Soviet-era lies to millions of people) The oversimplification is good for children getting interested in history, but not for teenagers or God forbid, adults. As I stated before, I support what they are doing over there, but it's very oversimplified.

  • @Enchie

    @Enchie

    Жыл бұрын

    @@aluminium5738 So your problem with Oversimplified is that he.... Oversimplified things..... Dude, let's think on this for a second.

  • @NinjaMan47
    @NinjaMan47 Жыл бұрын

    A great topic would be the Belgium's obsession with neutrality. The French and British wanted to integrate Belgium into the Maginot or at least station Allied troops inside their Borders. But once war had broken out in Europe the Belgian King threw out any preemtive cooperation with the Allies and took German promises of Neutrality until the very last moment. That is why the Allies were forced to race into Belgium rather than already be in place when Germany invaded.

  • @aze94

    @aze94

    Жыл бұрын

    But Belgium became neutral in 1936, not 1939...

  • @MN-vz8qm

    @MN-vz8qm

    Жыл бұрын

    @@aze94 That is the issue, the french had preplanned the maginot line including belgium. When Belgium got out, the plan felt appart. The french initial plan was to preposition their forces in belgium, while what happened in reality is that they had to wait for germany to invade belgium (and receive authorisation to cross the line) to rush their forces in a chaotic mess. In this mess the germans found a weak spot and thanks to some particularly brilliant (and independent) commanders, exploited it to the fullest to avoid the main french force, encircle it and destroy it.

  • @adbuck-cu5df

    @adbuck-cu5df

    Жыл бұрын

    France declared war on Germany in September of 1939 so Germany had little alternative but to occupy it. Belgium just happened to be in the way (same as the Netherlands). Greece, Yugoslavia and Norway were all forced into the arena by the Allies and got occupied for their trouble. War is ugly and states wishing to be neutral is a positive thing. Ireland was neutral for instance. They weren't occupied.

  • @MN-vz8qm

    @MN-vz8qm

    Жыл бұрын

    @@adbuck-cu5df you sound like searching for excuses for germany... they were the ones starting ww2 by invading poland, then militarily allied with france and britain.

  • @willsmithens5529

    @willsmithens5529

    Жыл бұрын

    Belgium wasn't neutral in the 1920s when they invaded Germany (Rhineland) together with France and occupied it for several years.

  • @gfx2943
    @gfx2943 Жыл бұрын

    I absolutely love these latest vids you're putting up. As a kid I used to draw military soldiers in high detail, would have loved to have been a part of something like this! Keep up the great work Griff & Co.!

  • @joshuafrimpong244
    @joshuafrimpong244 Жыл бұрын

    This should have been an easy victory for France. Germany's forces where tied down that much in Poland that the French actually outnumbered them, and with the help of all of their military, they could have overran their industrial base in the Rhineland, cut off Germany and made it a very short European war Instead they got cold feet, retreated, and after doing nothing for 2 years, they were conquered and had to raise their royal flag. What a waste

  • @frankieseward8667

    @frankieseward8667

    Жыл бұрын

    More like disgrace. Seriously never get tried of war. You want peace? Fight for it.

  • @joshuafrimpong244

    @joshuafrimpong244

    Жыл бұрын

    @@frankieseward8667 quick, quote Winston Churchill

  • @joshuafrimpong244

    @joshuafrimpong244

    Жыл бұрын

    @@frankieseward8667 I forgot what he said

  • @user-op8fg3ny3j

    @user-op8fg3ny3j

    Жыл бұрын

    @@joshuafrimpong244 the French tanks were better than the German ones too (apart from the single man turret and lack of radios)

  • @armandoventura9043

    @armandoventura9043

    Жыл бұрын

    Well, to be fair it is something they could not think of, we see it through the modern lens, but at that time the experience of trench warfare was still fresh, coupled with the lack of innovation and improvisation of the French high command... well, we already know what happened

  • @SzymonTopol
    @SzymonTopol Жыл бұрын

    It's quite sad that the largest conflict in human history could possibly have been ended within it's opening months. 😕 And it was not tried not due to lack of capability, but instead an over incompetence of commanders. We should remember bravery of french soldiers (when they were allowed to show it) and be able to distinguish it from paranoid caution of their leaders.

  • @ae3464

    @ae3464

    Жыл бұрын

    French generals during the opening stages are like idiots its like they would want france to lose.

  • @WM-gf8zm

    @WM-gf8zm

    Жыл бұрын

    you know who else couldve prevented germany from even leaving its borders? poland. But noo, little poland had to help germany & hungary take on czechoslovakia & not let soviet troops through to protect czechoslovakia. But then they cry on internet how they are the victim.

  • @qhasz9950

    @qhasz9950

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WM-gf8zm do you really think Hitler wouldnt invade anyway?

  • @qhasz9950

    @qhasz9950

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WM-gf8zm it really is sad how people are saying that the war would be prevented by Poland being compliant. Poland took back the territory that was stolen during when they were saving all of hecking Europe from the red menace on the east. Taking a small largely polish part that was either going to Germany and the axis in the future or then to Poland is uncomparable to the atrocities committed by the Germans

  • @hhhhhh-vi6sq

    @hhhhhh-vi6sq

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WM-gf8zm ahh yes, let troops from a foreign country who you went to war with some years ago in, what could go wrong, its not like that allows them to occupy your country completely like what happened in the baltics in 1940

  • @hebl47
    @hebl47 Жыл бұрын

    Gamelin and Huntziger - a dream duo of French generals. One totally botched the offensive, the other the defense.

  • @isbuayne
    @isbuayne Жыл бұрын

    whoever doing the animations deserves a raise

  • @cattysplat

    @cattysplat

    Жыл бұрын

    It helps alot especially with the boring military leaders bit. You basically get little more than a grandiose portrait of these military leaders when reading about this stuff in a history textbook, helps bring it to life.

  • @lukaszkowalski2971
    @lukaszkowalski2971 Жыл бұрын

    The episode would be most amusing but… the “timidity” of allies resulted in unimaginable atrocities of Germans conducted on Polish civilians and POVs that to this day are overlooked beyond Poland. No wonder that the “west betrayal” is so enrooted in Polish mindset

  • @Slavove

    @Slavove

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah man I mean for fucks sake I hate when people suck the dicks of the allies even tho millions of my people were being inslaved killed and culturally destroyed and Warsaw was bombed into complete destruction, god and I thought this video would show me how the French did try to help my people but the only help we were given was germany being bombed with paper

  • @l.b.7543

    @l.b.7543

    Жыл бұрын

    The poles lost twice in the defensive war- once against Germany, and the second resulting in 44 years of communism with the Soviet Union occupying their country

  • @Tensaii1

    @Tensaii1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@l.b.7543 poland is the only country in history that was on total winning side and lost territory industry and people as result of being on the winning side

  • @MidgeCat

    @MidgeCat

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Tensaii1 And then you have Bulgaria, who actually gained territory despite being on the losing side of the same war

  • @mannymejia4339

    @mannymejia4339

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Tensaii1 you can blame Stalin for that. I don’t think his grudge against the entire country of Poland ever left after his humiliation outside of Warsaw in 1920

  • @NinjaMan47
    @NinjaMan47 Жыл бұрын

    Memories from WW1 were still fresh in France, where over 1.5 million soldiers died (over 4% of the population). While their timidity was disasterious in hindsight the French generals had no stomach to send a second generation to ruin. An admirable, if misguided, mindset.

  • @BaronVonMott

    @BaronVonMott

    Жыл бұрын

    "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

  • @Nekodaisuki88

    @Nekodaisuki88

    Жыл бұрын

    Many deaths in WWI were due to foolhardy decisions from the generals and that was well remembered in 1939.

  • @maxfernandes8559

    @maxfernandes8559

    Жыл бұрын

    This is the same mindset why France failed to win the FIFA world cup till 1998 and 2018.

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    I believe it's more about careers than mindset. Gamelen feared to loose his chair, that's why he ordered the retreat and thats he ordered to follow the Dyle plan later ( ambitious plan to defend whole Belgium and France). Only with French defeat becoming clear, he and Daladier were replaced. That Daladier also was very weary about his own chair.

  • @mitchellb3297

    @mitchellb3297

    Жыл бұрын

    Especially if war wasn't inevitable. No one in their right mind would start another WW1. Hitler at this time was just another political statesman. No one knew of the horrors to come, so war wasn't obviously justifiable.

  • @kevinmolato692
    @kevinmolato692 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful. Thank you for bringing attention to the often overlooked parts of history

  • @Adriaticus
    @Adriaticus Жыл бұрын

    The quality has improved so much since i started watching this channel! love the video and the game keep it all up!

  • @lucianoosorio5942
    @lucianoosorio5942 Жыл бұрын

    France: Failed in invading Germany This enraged Napoleon who punished them severely

  • @toneoftones7053

    @toneoftones7053

    Жыл бұрын

    I understood that reference

  • @gigachad3327

    @gigachad3327

    Жыл бұрын

    Oversimplified

  • @vermilion6966

    @vermilion6966

    Жыл бұрын

    xD "I understood that refference" read it in Cap's voice

  • @bunk95

    @bunk95

    5 ай бұрын

    Punishments are fictional. He participated in killing in order to create those who are marketed as part of government,..German government (cause he was forced to).

  • @wonderfalg

    @wonderfalg

    Ай бұрын

    There was no Germany when Napoleon lived.

  • @AlexC-ou4ju
    @AlexC-ou4ju Жыл бұрын

    My family lost three men in 1914-1918(Marne, Verdun & Spanish flu), by 1940 the family had nothing left to give. Pretty symptomatic of France as a whole. Edit: correction, my family actually gave a 14 year old as a messenger boy to the resistance in 1942 who mercifully survived the war. Still, not quite the same offering as in 1918.

  • @robertharkness7342

    @robertharkness7342

    Жыл бұрын

    Indeed. France was exhausted from ww1 in a way the British could not imagine. Belgium too.

  • @AlexC-ou4ju

    @AlexC-ou4ju

    Жыл бұрын

    @@secretname4190 Yes as you say France and belgium had their country occupied and industrial zones wrecked and also had lower populations to begin with. I believe 97% of Belgium was occupied throughout most of the war. How much of France's wealth and industry was seized during the war and made to serve germany instead. Not only did Germany not suffer any occupation but they failed to make their reperation committments which if had been sent might have allowed France and belgium to modernise their industry more effectively like Germany had done after France paid off their 1870 war debt. To this day, let alone in 1940, there are vast swathes of France's industrial regions were land is unusable because there are still shells and chemical weapons tainting the soil rendering the land unusable.

  • @myhonorwasloyalty

    @myhonorwasloyalty

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AlexC-ou4ju resistance=cowards

  • @mitchellb3297

    @mitchellb3297

    Жыл бұрын

    Especially with the knowledge that if the French invaded deep into the German Territory, war would 100% be started, while if they just created a defensive position, it could still be avoidable. No one knew the extent of Hitler's madness in 1939, he was just another political statesman. I think if I was that French General, in that position and having been a WW1 vet, I would probably have made the same decision. Yeah, Germany had Poland, but there was nothing left the French could do short of a total invasion.

  • @admontblanc

    @admontblanc

    Жыл бұрын

    How dare you cowards not send your women to rescue brave Poland?

  • @milesarroyo8404
    @milesarroyo8404 Жыл бұрын

    *Ad* starts 1:58 *Ad* ends 2:37

  • @gdutfulkbhh7537

    @gdutfulkbhh7537

    3 ай бұрын

    Thank you! I hate these stupid ads.

  • @ALaughingWolf2188
    @ALaughingWolf2188 Жыл бұрын

    Always love it when you do stuff that I haven’t even heard of, your videos are always very entertaining to watch for someone as interested in history like me, I was wondering if you could do something on the 1916 Brusilov Offensive during WW1? It’s a very interesting story and I’d love to see you touch on it!

  • @SpaceMonkeyBoi
    @SpaceMonkeyBoi Жыл бұрын

    Love the thumbnail design and jokes put into these types of videos. Many history channels take themselves too seriously. These things really make this channel stand out, besides the quality.

  • @cooncheese2209

    @cooncheese2209

    Жыл бұрын

    @mb Sussy

  • @Rationalific

    @Rationalific

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, like dabbing his forehead while being unsure of what button to press. It's informative and serious enough, but has some jokes and memes only enough to make it fun without going overboard into the silly.

  • @feldgeist2637

    @feldgeist2637

    Жыл бұрын

    love how he speaks about the Leaflet Bombers of the RAF but we shouldn't take the air raid on Wilhelmshaven just 3 days after the war broke out too seriously I guess.....

  • @skyninjaslayer337

    @skyninjaslayer337

    Жыл бұрын

    Real

  • @OperatorMax1993

    @OperatorMax1993

    Жыл бұрын

    I love the thumbnails and jokes too Makes the channel stand out among other history channels

  • @Arutima
    @Arutima Жыл бұрын

    France had one of the strongest army in the world in 1939. What hamstring them the most was their high ranking commanding officers, who were WWI veterans and that did not want another repeat and another generation getting massacred on the field.

  • @MoreAwsomeMetal

    @MoreAwsomeMetal

    Жыл бұрын

    Their army was actually stronger than the German one (except for the Luftwaffe who was way ahead of their airforce). The French tank's armor couldn't be pierced by the german tanks of this time (the Pz I and II were most of the backbone of the German army in 1939 and the Tigers and Panthers were still in development). But in the end this was irrelevant: France would have been defeated no matter what, and so would have been the BEF if it didn't managed to evacuate: The strenght didn't mattered at all for victory, what mattered was the tactics used. The germans invented the concept of tank divisions, not the allies that were still seeing them exclusivelu as supports for infantry divisions in order to help them break through enemy defenses. The germans invented the concept of paratrooper brigades able to deploy behind enemy lines and cut their supplies and retreat, while the allies saw parachutes as a mere way to escape from a burning aircraft. The Germans invented the Blitzkrieg, whose concept is to overrun the ennemy in a quick and ever moving deployment with no regards of securing the lines, but just moving, encercling, and destroying and ennemy completely disoriented by this neverseen tactic combining airforces, tanks and mobile troops. So my guess is no: this unprepared offensive for an army that wasn't equiped or trained for a such scale offensive would eventually have been stopped and completely repelled not to say completely destroyed. the German had the groundbreaking tactics, the allies were here to learn...

  • @alexanderballa6152

    @alexanderballa6152

    Жыл бұрын

    @Bastian yeah germany would have been fucked if the french invaded

  • @prathyushareddy9404

    @prathyushareddy9404

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MoreAwsomeMetal The Soviets had the concept of deep battle before the Germans. The Soviets also developed the concept of paratroopers though they didn't put them in practice

  • @SelfProclaimedEmperor

    @SelfProclaimedEmperor

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MoreAwsomeMetal France would have won had they simply extended the Maginot Line to the English Channel. The Germans went around the Maginot because they knew their tactics would get shredded trying to go through the worlds strongest fortifications.

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    Funny thing that Soviet tanks like T34 or KV1 also were better than German tanks in 1941. But KVs and T34s often found themselves without ammo or gas, encircled...

  • @brycedunn4113
    @brycedunn4113 Жыл бұрын

    The blue in Poland's flag stands for it's faithful allies.

  • @Kededian
    @Kededian Жыл бұрын

    Another well done video. Thank you!

  • @dirkley5577
    @dirkley5577 Жыл бұрын

    Some remarks about the deserted villages mentioned at 15:11. As part of their war preparations the German leadership gave the order to evacuate the Sarre Territory (Saargebiet). Among the evacuees were my paternal grandparents who were sent to a town near Magdeburg. After the Wehrmacht successfully invaded France in 1940, my grandparents returned to their village. But in 1944, when the Allied Forces marched towards the German border, my grandparents were evacuated again. After the war they could finally come home to their village, where they lived until their death in 1993 (my grandfather) and 1998 (my grandmother).

  • @felixc.3444

    @felixc.3444

    Жыл бұрын

    Interesting story

  • @maharlikanandproud15yearsa25

    @maharlikanandproud15yearsa25

    Жыл бұрын

    @Hitler Loves Anime probably german

  • @TheOfficalBiggestBird

    @TheOfficalBiggestBird

    Жыл бұрын

    @Hitler Loves Anime German. He clearly states this. Also your username is…akward

  • @TheOfficalBiggestBird

    @TheOfficalBiggestBird

    Жыл бұрын

    @Hitler Loves Anime Not really.

  • @maharlikanandproud15yearsa25

    @maharlikanandproud15yearsa25

    Жыл бұрын

    @Hitler Loves Anime stop saying “please reply to me”

  • @fraymakerfan3628
    @fraymakerfan3628 Жыл бұрын

    15:22 Funny how the Germans had exactly 666 casualties.

  • @piotrmiler234

    @piotrmiler234

    Жыл бұрын

    Hmmmmm....

  • @jeremynebot767

    @jeremynebot767

    Жыл бұрын

    Execute order 66...!

  • @Taiyama2
    @Taiyama2 Жыл бұрын

    It seems like the leaders--who probably fought in the war itself--were so traumatized by the Great War that they were utterly gunshy and unwilling to do what was necessary for victory, while the soldiers--being young men who hadn't seen that horror--were willing and ready to do whatever it took.

  • @randomlygeneratedname7171

    @randomlygeneratedname7171

    Жыл бұрын

    The German tactics were too superior the battle hardened Germans from Poland will smash France easily in their own back yard. The French Command’s only weakness was the gap in their defensive line not their retreat.

  • @perkristoffersson4153

    @perkristoffersson4153

    Жыл бұрын

    Except they probably did not really fight in the previous war. Desktop generals.

  • @CB-rx4zg
    @CB-rx4zg Жыл бұрын

    That Thumbnail is just epic 😂 And awesome video by the way😅

  • @That-Belgian-Guy
    @That-Belgian-Guy Жыл бұрын

    I didn't even know the French tried to invade Germany! Well done Griffin!

  • @Fatherland927

    @Fatherland927

    Жыл бұрын

    They also did it in 1923, facing defenceless German civilians. Imagine that, they were almost conquered 1914, but though they survived, they were allowed to humiliate the already broken Germans, and invaded hurting civilians. Britain fought the wrong enemy* 1914

  • @AlexC-ou4ju

    @AlexC-ou4ju

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Fatherland927 what a stupid takeaway, maybe if Germany wasn't invading neutral countries and threatening Britain. Britain wouldn't have had to, also maybe if Germany had just paid back it's debts to France like France had done in 1870 France wouldn't have had to enforce the treaty of Versailles. Germany wasn't broken Unlike Belgium and France it took war to the land of others and they looted it. The French and Belgians were the broken ones. Besides if Britain had sided with the germans in 1914 they would have conquered France and taken all their and Belgian channel ports destroying Britain's last advantage, the royal navy. Germany was the criminal the allies were the police and in 1923 France was just using the court appointed bailifs to get their due. Tired of this Germany was only the villain in WW2 and was innocent in WW1 bullshit.

  • @Fatherland927

    @Fatherland927

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Moroes11 I was German/Norwegian until adopted by an English family who happen to have a grandfather who was BEF, be grateful the British saved France (battle of Mons).

  • @noidea5984

    @noidea5984

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Fatherland927 I mean Germans killed 300.000 French civilians, rapped a lot of women especially in Belgium plus destroyed so many cities, that what you get when you make troubles. You didn't understand with the French but the Soviets atrocities finally cleared your mind

  • @lahire4943

    @lahire4943

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Fatherland927 Lol. Never heard of the treaties of Paris in 1814 and 1815? Never heard of the treaty of Frankfurt in 1871? In 1918, it was just France's turn. When we were defeated in 1815 and 1871, we suffered extremely harsh treaties. The treaty of Paris in 1815 was the highest payment in regard to the GDP ever imposed on a major European nation. We paid in a couple of years. The treaty of Frankfurt in 1871 was the highest payment ever imposed on a major European nation at the time. We paid in a couple of years. In 1918, France was broken, Germany suffered the harsh treaty you deserved (that should have been harsher). You didn't pay, and you're still crying about it. That's the difference. The British didn't save anything. The only reason the British were not annihilated at Mons was the French repositioning. The French victories of la Trouée de Charmes and Grand Couronné made the victory at the Marne possible. The catastrophically cautious attitude of the BEF at the Marne made a battle that should have ended the war only a defensive victory. Well done. Same BEF that left the front in 1940 without telling the French and the Belgians (causing the Belgian surrender), that was saved by the French at Lille and Dunkirk and that would later erase the crucial French participation (20,000 killed, including my great grand father you see, 80,000 captured) to their "miraculous" escape. You must be proud of that.

  • @RemnantCult
    @RemnantCult Жыл бұрын

    In another timeline, the French would have played a huge part in victory over fascist Germany. That's not to discredit these soldiers and the freedom fighters, however, but it hurts to be reminded of how something could have been done earlier.

  • @aroace7913

    @aroace7913

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep, the nazi terror could have been cut short.

  • @vknight7497

    @vknight7497

    Жыл бұрын

    Germany wasn't fascist. They're national socialists. Italy was fascist.

  • @aroace7913

    @aroace7913

    Жыл бұрын

    @@vknight7497 Lmao, give that up already nobody is buying that bullshit.

  • @RandomGuy9

    @RandomGuy9

    Жыл бұрын

    Just like today in Ukraine.

  • @aroace7913

    @aroace7913

    Жыл бұрын

    @@RandomGuy9 You mean the russian army lead by the big times nazi Putin ? Yep, checks out.

  • @ger128
    @ger128Ай бұрын

    Really superb and informative video

  • @AL-kb3cb
    @AL-kb3cb4 ай бұрын

    It's easy to make fun of France while the UK and US were protected by the sea from the nazis. Russia was protected by massive land distances as well.

  • @padawanmage71
    @padawanmage71 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for that! I had no idea France could have possibly changed the course of the war with the Saar Offensive (a ‘fight’ I never heard of). No wonder people like DeGaulle were infuriated with the ineptitude of his superiors

  • @doigt6590

    @doigt6590

    Жыл бұрын

    saar*, it's a region's name, not a russian royal title :-P

  • @padawanmage71

    @padawanmage71

    Жыл бұрын

    @@doigt6590 thank you! I really didn’t know =/

  • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@padawanmage71 Tsar offensive lmao Dude please

  • @padawanmage71

    @padawanmage71

    Жыл бұрын

    @@selinane2Seli-zw3pz Honest mistake. I wasn’t trying to be cute. Haven’t you ever made a mistake by the sound of a word?

  • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@padawanmage71 Sometimes ignorance is funny

  • @theanglo-lithuanian1768
    @theanglo-lithuanian1768 Жыл бұрын

    The RAF summarised: RAF: "Can w-" French government: "No! What if they do the same to us?"

  • @will7816

    @will7816

    Жыл бұрын

    Another Summary : RAF : Shall we give you a hand and drop bombs on the ennemy ? French Governement : Yes Please. RAF : *proceeds to drop leaflets* French Governement : ???

  • @admontblanc

    @admontblanc

    Жыл бұрын

    @@will7816 end the war actually bombing France, unlike Germany: "wow I'm sure glad I did THIS alliance instead of something else"

  • @rockmyworldmusic
    @rockmyworldmusic Жыл бұрын

    History is a harsh judge. From the perspective of the commander, he wasn't being timid. He was trying not to overextend his lines. How many stories, how many tales of the battlefield have happened in the reverse? How many times has an officer advanced when they should have dug in? Failure to grasp the possibility of a counterattack has been costly to many a unit. Indeed, we are all armchair historians to call him too cautious.

  • @korosuke1788

    @korosuke1788

    9 ай бұрын

    Sounds like a coward's excuse.

  • @encycl07pedia-

    @encycl07pedia-

    3 ай бұрын

    lol. The Germans were "overextending" their lines by blazing through Poland... That's why they were winning. I could understand if the Germans had their army in reserve to fight France, but they were almost all headed east into Poland. That was the opportunity to strike and Gamelin blew it and caused millions and millions more deaths due to cowardice. How many YEARS of bloodshed could have been avoided if he were actually competent?

  • @amsa1076

    @amsa1076

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@korosuke1788we have the benefit of knowing what happened. It's easy to judge from today's timeline.

  • @DraftTheHippies
    @DraftTheHippies Жыл бұрын

    To quote General Byng “The man who does something is sometimes wrong, but the man who does nothing is always wrong”

  • @SpaceMonkeyBoi
    @SpaceMonkeyBoi Жыл бұрын

    Imagine how different it would have been if the French rushed Berlin while the Germans were busy in Poland.

  • @gamerdrache6076

    @gamerdrache6076

    Жыл бұрын

    they would not i think they would push far but lose momentum and germany would be having its army back so i think it would been an stalemate

  • @cluemantherandom6020

    @cluemantherandom6020

    Жыл бұрын

    @@gamerdrache6076 probably not stalemate,they outnumbered the Germans and if the Germans redeploy forces in poland,they will be outnumbered in the two fronts

  • @fluffskunk

    @fluffskunk

    Жыл бұрын

    @@cluemantherandom6020 Germans would have had superior tactics unless government forced a change in leadership of the French Army. But resources would have favored the French and British immensely. Imagine 7 battleships, 19 cruisers, 71 destroyers and 76 submarines joining the Royal Navy. The Bismark wouldn't have been hunted on the sea, that combined Anglo-French armada would have been able to pin it in port.

  • @simon2493

    @simon2493

    Жыл бұрын

    They would be stuck at Siegfried line

  • @cluemantherandom6020

    @cluemantherandom6020

    Жыл бұрын

    @@fluffskunk probably ye

  • @philly83
    @philly83 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for covering this. As you mentioned, it is so often overlooked.

  • @samuelmatthews2553
    @samuelmatthews2553 Жыл бұрын

    Your videos are awesome Keep em coming

  • @Kardia_of_Rhodes
    @Kardia_of_Rhodes Жыл бұрын

    Belgium pulling out of the Allies prior to ww2 in a vain attempt to appear "Neutral" in the eyes of Hitler certainly didn't help France either, especially since France's plan heavily relied on prepared defensive positions along the Meuse River in Belgium.

  • @Justin-cw7zf
    @Justin-cw7zf Жыл бұрын

    It’s a shame this offensive didn’t work out, if it continued it could have done a lot of damage to Germany

  • @totallynotacommie4767

    @totallynotacommie4767

    Жыл бұрын

    @Pig 🅥 ffs i wanna know who tf created this bot so i could beat the shoot out of them.

  • @user-op8fg3ny3j

    @user-op8fg3ny3j

    Жыл бұрын

    Yh. Too many people have the false narrative that the Nazis were too powerful but it was more the fact that the allies were weak

  • @ehfoiwehfowjedioheoih4829

    @ehfoiwehfowjedioheoih4829

    Жыл бұрын

    It didn’t work because the French were a bad fighting force. Stuck with using flags and crap to communicate

  • @awesomebrawel4050

    @awesomebrawel4050

    Жыл бұрын

    @@user-op8fg3ny3j u are wrong allies were not weak

  • @die1mayer

    @die1mayer

    Жыл бұрын

    @@user-op8fg3ny3j "When your opponent is making a false move, it is wise not to disturb him." -Napoleon

  • @adorimable9690
    @adorimable9690 Жыл бұрын

    I will always love the design of the Adrian Helmet, its a weird metal baseball cap with a fin on top and a pineapple on the forehead, whats not to love?

  • @jonny6616

    @jonny6616

    Жыл бұрын

    look like firefighter helmet

  • @doigt6590

    @doigt6590

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jonny6616 it's because the firefighter helmet is a variant of the adrian helmet

  • @Tutel9528

    @Tutel9528

    Жыл бұрын

    Stahlhelm is so much cooler imo

  • @TheArchemman
    @TheArchemman Жыл бұрын

    Hi Armchair Historian, I love your videos. I watched almost all of them. I rewatch your older videos and I realized you don't use that intro anymore. Nevertheless, keep up the good work.

  • @TrayDyer38
    @TrayDyer38 Жыл бұрын

    You just gained a subscriber. Your a gifted historian. I know enough history to know that when I see someone that is skilled in explaining simplistically the complexity why and how wars begin, I’m acutely aware the labor it takes to acquire that knowledge and more impressed by those who can apply that knowledge with clarity and relevance. I must tip my hat, and acknowledging you.

  • @cheeseeater871
    @cheeseeater871 Жыл бұрын

    Good job guys always bringing us interesting history videos

  • @omgpix
    @omgpix Жыл бұрын

    Bit of an omission re: French fascists not supporting the war. The communists didn't either. nor did any of the Comintern parties across the West. After the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact with Nazi Germany the word went out to their affiliates that overt criticism of the Nazis was to be ceased, there were to be no further confrontations. Even as Paris fell they were calling it the "Tne Anglo-French Imperialist War" and urged workers to sit it out. Of course once Hitler betrayed Stalin and launched Operation Barbarossa they suddenly changed their tune. only then was WW2 a war against fascism in their eyes.

  • @WM-gf8zm

    @WM-gf8zm

    Жыл бұрын

    because they didnt want to start crap till the military and industry was ready.

  • @julio1116

    @julio1116

    Жыл бұрын

    You lack the full picture, Stalin wanted germany and the allies to fight a deadly war between themselves until the soviet union could pounce and bring world revolution

  • @WM-gf8zm

    @WM-gf8zm

    Жыл бұрын

    @@julio1116 that wouldve never happened. Germany was supplied & had trades with US & allied companies such as US Steel and was supposed to take down USSR for them

  • @omgpix

    @omgpix

    Жыл бұрын

    @@julio1116 Stalin going to Stalin. The traitors in this example are the English and French communists who went along with it, as their countries were facing war and later occupation. Their true allegiances laid with a despot on the other side of the continent rather than their own countrymen.

  • @julio1116

    @julio1116

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WM-gf8zm The British and French wanted a Soviet-German war desperately, both tried to get actual commitments from the USSR and both send diplomats on the eve of Molotov Ribbentrop to get them involved. Stalin instead left to them fight between each other Stalin got what he wanted, but he underestimated the german's strength who gave the french a crushing defeat. Also what a totally backwards view of history, the US tried to cause a soviet german war? Not even close. much of the industrialization that happened in the USSR was thanks to american companies, the US even forgave much of the soviet debt from 600 million to 75 million dollars and began to recognize the soviet union. Ludicrous ideas of capitalist persecution of the USSR in the 30's live solely in soviet propaganda not in history, many goverments lent money to the soviets and opened embassies only to be met by subterfuge and refusal to pay their debts.

  • @matthewpopp1054
    @matthewpopp1054 Жыл бұрын

    Really love the maps, visually stunning graphics

  • @FaroiaAlves
    @FaroiaAlves Жыл бұрын

    LOVE THIS CHANNEL . . . thank you.

  • @conserva-chan2735
    @conserva-chan2735 Жыл бұрын

    I would love a vid on the Portuguese Colonial War. It's such an awesome and grossly underrated War it would be perfect for your style.

  • @CivilWarWeekByWeek
    @CivilWarWeekByWeek Жыл бұрын

    They didn’t lose they merely failed to win

  • @germanstormtrooper2298

    @germanstormtrooper2298

    Жыл бұрын

    Ah yes oversimplified

  • @LichsuhoathinhDrabattle
    @LichsuhoathinhDrabattle Жыл бұрын

    The channel releases videos regularly, with an easy to understand and interesting historical recap. Hope the channel produces more interesting historical videos☺☺

  • @Triggernlfrl
    @Triggernlfrl Жыл бұрын

    Well done to cover this 'forgoten' event!

  • @iGamezRo
    @iGamezRo Жыл бұрын

    "Lions lead by Donkeys" - but its 17 minutes long and well made.

  • @robertholmberg6485
    @robertholmberg6485 Жыл бұрын

    The arguments against the Saar offensive working are that: 1. The Germans had more than 23 divisions and the Siegfried line I'm the path of further incursion into Germany, and 2. That Germany could have brought divisions from Poland to fight against the French in a short amount of time due to their railway system. But Gamelan still should have pressed the offensive much more vigorously than he did

  • @Xiangling.24
    @Xiangling.24 Жыл бұрын

    Thumbnail is very Unique and Creative and Perfect for the content of the video very cool and awesome in KZread Content and Also I Subscribed cuz Im a Historian Nerd

  • @lordkiljaeden3887
    @lordkiljaeden3887 Жыл бұрын

    I love the Alternate History reference at the end, hope one is made!

  • @DK-ig8zi
    @DK-ig8zi Жыл бұрын

    In France Gamelin is an insult. He is considered almost as a traitor

  • @normalplayer7377
    @normalplayer7377 Жыл бұрын

    Video begins at 2:39

  • @ExcavationNation

    @ExcavationNation

    Жыл бұрын

    Doing the lord's work I see. Thank you 🙏

  • @malickfan7461

    @malickfan7461

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @kael2295
    @kael2295 Жыл бұрын

    btw - if you want to do an EQUAL Video in the Versus-Series you should do the battles when finns and germans had to fight each others. These were extremly hard because you had 2 VERY professional armies fighting each other.

  • @svihl666
    @svihl666 Жыл бұрын

    Nice video, I didnt know about this :)

  • @leirex_1
    @leirex_1 Жыл бұрын

    That is the equivalent of watching your friend getting torn apart by a bear and instead of killing it with your rifle you poke the bear with the barrel.

  • @willsmithens5529

    @willsmithens5529

    Жыл бұрын

    France and poland were not really friends though.

  • @GoSlash27
    @GoSlash27 Жыл бұрын

    There was also the problem that the French had no offensive combined arms doctrine in place at the time. Even if they had committed themselves to a blitzkrieg- style offensive on Berlin, they lacked the organization and know- how to get it done. It's doubtful they could've subdued Germany before the Germans returned, and then they'd find their army deep in German territory, cut off, and surrounded.

  • @Tensaii1

    @Tensaii1

    Жыл бұрын

    no fuel amunition or parts were avaible for germans after Poland invasion needed few monthts to recover, also Stalin didnt invade Poland because he waited for frence and uk reaction for invasion, Poland could have fought much longer if not for soviet invasion

  • @Alpha1598753

    @Alpha1598753

    Жыл бұрын

    DeGaulle submited to his superior what basicaly was the combined arms doctrine and Blitzkrieg, he got his proposal denied due to high command inability and unwilligness to adapt to the era of tanks

  • @901Sherman

    @901Sherman

    Жыл бұрын

    Considering how incredibly weak and spread thin the German's on the west were at that time, even mass ww1 style human wave attack would've been enough for the French to overwhelm the defenses, possibly even reach all the way to Berlin (especially since the fighting in Poland was far from completely over).

  • @RouGeZH

    @RouGeZH

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@Tensaii1 "no fuel amunition or parts were avaible for germans after Poland invasion" That's complete and utter bullsh*t. The German ammunition stocks in 1939 are known, and the Polish campaign diminished them by around 10%. Whoever invented the "Germans had no ammo after Poland" myth is a complete fraud.

  • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@901Sherman Nope. Nope, the Saar offensive couldn't have been effective. Just read about it. France had 40 millions inhabitants, and was less mobilized than Germany in septembre 1939, while Nazi Germany was 80 millions inhabitants and almost fully mobilized. You can't launch an offensive against a bigger ennemy without heavy preparation, and even that often fail. Stop playing war in videogames and start studying history

  • @omma911
    @omma911 Жыл бұрын

    The art is sooo good!

  • @plazatheater4403
    @plazatheater4403 Жыл бұрын

    I don't know if you made a video on this or already or not but it would be cool to see a video about the Battle Khe Sanh.

  • @Bugga451
    @Bugga451 Жыл бұрын

    If there's anything the Red Alert games have taught me is that getting rid of Hitler (in some fashion) just paves the way for Stalin. Great video as always!

  • @Luuute

    @Luuute

    Жыл бұрын

    Atleast we have Tanya to one shot everything

  • @Bugga451

    @Bugga451

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Luuute "Shake it, baby!"

  • @scvboy1

    @scvboy1

    Жыл бұрын

    That's actually very possible. The USA probably stays in Isolation and the USSR could attack west after they build up a enough of a force by 1942 or 1943.

  • @Blox117

    @Blox117

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Luuute nothing here but us trees

  • @Bugga451

    @Bugga451

    Жыл бұрын

    @@scvboy1 That and the only way the US would get involved in this hypothetical Soviet-European War is another Zimmermann Telegram situation (I dunno, we'll call it the Molotov Telegram).

  • @xXArtemis5Xx
    @xXArtemis5Xx Жыл бұрын

    I think the allies being too timid to get involved was the German's entire gamble, there wasn't much worry of a French invasion explicitly because nothing happened when Austria and Czechoslovakia fell. The French fell right into their trap.

  • @Holypikemanz

    @Holypikemanz

    Жыл бұрын

    All the liberals bloodthirsty view of ww2, where a world war seems like no big deal, it costs you nothing to think that way. Send yourself into a nonsense war, started by your own leaders, see how you feel.

  • @Franzlouis-nn1db
    @Franzlouis-nn1db5 ай бұрын

    Great video

  • @crupt7301
    @crupt7301 Жыл бұрын

    I would love to see a video from you guys about the Chinese Civil War during ww2 and go in depth on the different war lords and infighting, talking about all the factions because it seems like everyone only talks about the republic of China and the communists

  • @enyoru2443
    @enyoru2443 Жыл бұрын

    The French were traumatised by WWI, especially Verdun. This trauma was reflected in the little actions French command took that golden moment of opportunity. In France, we learn that some wanted to fight but many didn't want to relive WWI, sadly WWII came to them...

  • @firefox7801

    @firefox7801

    Жыл бұрын

    probably not remotely true, I guess most were eager for round 2, but high command feared for their political careers if they lost too many men too soon.

  • @jonathandoe2316

    @jonathandoe2316

    Жыл бұрын

    @@firefox7801 Yes the Germans the losers were less traumatized. Still ready to fight while the victorious allies acted like the traumatized losers.

  • @jonathandoe2316

    @jonathandoe2316

    Жыл бұрын

    @@alfonsofedele557 Same thing after WW2 the allies were timid except in former colonies except for America. While the brutal soviets still were ready for a fight. Though there is truth in what you say

  • @shengyi1701

    @shengyi1701

    Жыл бұрын

    Sadly after Verdun, they were done!

  • @Anton-kp3mi

    @Anton-kp3mi

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@jonathandoe2316 Germany although main aggressor of the war and loser didn't experienced the war on its own soil, and was pretty well off at the end of the war compared to the (pyrrhic) victors, so yes it was less traumatized. This is even truer when comparing Germany to France, France suffered much more from the war than Germany.

  • @romanbarna1316
    @romanbarna1316 Жыл бұрын

    France only had half the population of Germany. (ca. .40 million vs 80 million) and only half the air force. I love how one of the most important factors concerning France is barely mentioned in pop-history. True, the French had colonies. But the colonies barely had any industry and there was only so many you could recruit from there before there would be issues. If anything, it's surprising that France was able to field an army that came even close to being as big as the German one. Finally, the disproportionate size of their military probably also explains why France had issues with quality and morale in some units (especially the ones defending the Ardennes).

  • @phlm9038

    @phlm9038

    Жыл бұрын

    The ones defending the Ardennes were conscripts and were very poorly equipped and poorly trained. How could you properly defend the Ardennes when you only had a rifle against tanks on high speed ? The best French army was stationed exactly on the same place in March but was tricked into Belgium.

  • @jonnyanderson8845

    @jonnyanderson8845

    Жыл бұрын

    1)69 million not 80 million people 2)France had many allies who were the size of France army 3)Germany has weaker tanks, planes 4)Germany was poor than France 5)France had colonies and before the war she took everything she wanted, unlike Germany, which had to negotiate with its future enemy, the USSR 7)In battle of Belgium Alliance lose 3 million army, Germany lose 20 thousands .This is a shame not only for France but also for the Alliance. If you take the mythical 80 million Germans, then add Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and you will get too unfair a fight. Although France was completely ready, she lost miserably.

  • @romanbarna1316

    @romanbarna1316

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jonnyanderson8845 Almost everything you said was inaccurate. Here are the numbers: - Germany had a population of roughly 80 million vs France's 40 million. - Germany had an economy almost twice the size of France. - Germany had an average GDP per capita of 5100 dollars vs 4400 for a Frenchman. I'm including Austria and Sudetenland since these were part of Germany by the time the war broke out, and since Germany recruited from these regions the same way it recruited from everywhere else in Germany proper. Also, these regions had more industry than all of France's colonies combined. But even if we exclude Austria and Sudetenland, Germany still far outmatches France economically and population wise. In regards to your other point, Belgium and Netherlands were pretty much crushed before the French army could react properly. Taking out tiny nations and their under equipped and underdeveloped armies doesn't earn you points as some great military juggernaut. Besides, even if you combine the population and industry of the Benelux countries with France, Germany would still be at an advantage. In conclusion: The only semi-worthwhile nation Germany defeated was France, a nation that had barely half the population and economy as Germany. Against everyone else they lost. So much for the invincible Wehrmacht. (To anyone reading this, don't take my word for it: Just check the population and economy stat out yourself.)

  • @jonnyanderson8845

    @jonnyanderson8845

    Жыл бұрын

    @@romanbarna1316 Oh, this weak Wehrmacht from which 2 empires disappeared (one of which is the largest British in history). The USSR suffered 12 million losses (27 million civilians) of the army against 2.7 million of the Wehrmacht. Only the United States and Great Britain dropped bombs per day on Germany, equivalent to 50-100 nuclear bombs, as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. You exaggerate GDP per capita too much, because everything was built on the military industry, unlike France. Germany without an army, with old technologies and corruption became a superpower that immediately declared war on all of Europe. The United States lost 3 times more soldiers in 1 year than with Japan in 4 years, although the United States fought with weak children from the Hitler Youth. Before writing about the incompetence of the French generals, why don't you write about the incompetence of the German generals in the period 1944-45, because even then they had a chance to win the war on 2 fronts, but they spent resources on killing innocent Jews ...

  • @jonnyanderson8845

    @jonnyanderson8845

    Жыл бұрын

    @@romanbarna1316 Once again, I tell you the population of Germany does not play any role here. The role is played by the size of the army and losses. In the battle for Belgium, the Allies lost 3 million troops, and Germany 20 thousand, is it luck?) This is the biggest victory in history, which is silent and more than Kyiv cauldron. For some reason, you have Napoleon a hero, although the population of France was then the largest in Europe and more than that of Russia. The main troops of Napoleon were not French, unlike Germany where 80% were Germans. Why then the USSR boasts of a victory for a couple of dozen years, although their population was 200+ million people.

  • @lenorevanalstine1219
    @lenorevanalstine1219 Жыл бұрын

    legend has it the blue on the polish flag represents steadfast and trustworthy allies

  • @chaosXP3RT
    @chaosXP3RT Жыл бұрын

    After the Saar Offensive, there was about 1 year of war where not much happened. An American journalist dubbed it the Sitzkrieg (instead of Blitzkrieg)

  • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    Жыл бұрын

    How many times have the americans attacked a country more populated and more indstrialized than themselves ? Just asking

  • @craydussy

    @craydussy

    Жыл бұрын

    @@selinane2Seli-zw3pz and what does that have to do with the comment? Keep your politics to yourself weirdo

  • @chaosXP3RT

    @chaosXP3RT

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@selinane2Seli-zw3pzWhat does that have to do with the price of fish?

  • @skribblyscramiento539
    @skribblyscramiento539 Жыл бұрын

    Griffin Johnsen the Armchair Historian: "That's a question for the alternate historians out there." Cody Franklin from the Alternate History Hub: *Breaks down wall and catches breath* "OKAY SO WHAT IF IN AN ALTERNATE TIMELINE...?!"

  • @211212112
    @211212112 Жыл бұрын

    “The French were in high spirits.” It sounds like French should of went on the offensive even if a cautious one instead of not doing much and french morale steadily decrease. If nothing else the french could of damaged German infrastructure and given themselves more territory to conduct a fighting retreat. Also, the German tanks and planes would of had to go that much further. For WWII tanks an extra 200 miles is a lot. I strike thru the lines to the sea would of been out of reach. It would take at least one major stop, regroup, refuel, and maintenance before driving to the sea

  • @erictrumpler9652

    @erictrumpler9652

    Жыл бұрын

    "would have" please, instead of "would of".... your argument is much stronger without elementary grammatical errors....

  • @magni5648

    @magni5648

    Жыл бұрын

    They did. The Saar Offensive was about the biggest they could do without breaking their own ongoing mobilisation effort and crippling their own army in the mid-long term.

  • @joshuamatiasrecalde5157
    @joshuamatiasrecalde5157 Жыл бұрын

    'With the 21st motorised infantry taking extensive territory.' One French battalion moved forward one mile and occupied some trees.

  • @What_do_I_Think
    @What_do_I_Think5 ай бұрын

    What can you learn from this: Pure defense without (counter-) attacking yourself is doomed to fail.

  • @gabrieledipalma3763
    @gabrieledipalma3763 Жыл бұрын

    Could you continue the squad vs squad series? You could do italian infantry vs the British empire infantry in North Africa and during the sicily campaign

  • @nate-otero
    @nate-otero Жыл бұрын

    I suppose having seen the immense loss in ww1 the French command were reluctant to risk losing so many men again.

  • @Dunbar0740
    @Dunbar0740 Жыл бұрын

    Gamelin witnessed the rapid collapse of Poland and understood an intact German army would soon be freed to face France alone. It's apparent he believed it wise to retire to prepared positions rather than engage a motivated, well equipped, enemy deep in its home territory. I suspect Gamelin bought into the 1930s hype of air power and believed German industry would be leveled by strategic bombers of the RAF regardless of where he positioned French troops.

  • @RouGeZH

    @RouGeZH

    Жыл бұрын

    On the contrary Gamelin had zero faith in aviation. He believed in massive artillery barrages.

  • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    @selinane2Seli-zw3pz

    Жыл бұрын

    Gamelin decision to withdraw from the Sarra was logical, as France wasn't prepared to launch a massive offensive. But his decisions in 1940 are among the worst of French military history (with 1870 defeat).

  • @jansobieski3127

    @jansobieski3127

    Жыл бұрын

    @@selinane2Seli-zw3pz I have to say "why the French wasn't prepared in 1939" ? It's not like Hitler was dangerous since 1936-37, the had like 2 or 3 years to prepare, but the did nothing, in 39 they were like a bunch of naked idiots, juste like the British.

  • @deandhadwal6470
    @deandhadwal647010 ай бұрын

    Can you guys make more Playlists and maybe combine some of your WW2, etc videos to make larger Playlists so I can hit play and watch without having to search through the rest please.

  • @837450987
    @837450987 Жыл бұрын

    I love the use of Debussy in the opening

  • @johnsmead5096
    @johnsmead5096 Жыл бұрын

    for real though, show us more of the elephant and sloth fight. its interesting to think what russian, american, or british generals would have done with such an opportunity. i think either faction's strategy could easily be summed up with "grab them by the dick and twist". for germany to have its industrial heartland so exposed and for the french to be in such a position as to be able to raze it in what can ostensibly be considered a two week raid is jaw dropping.

  • @polygonalfortress
    @polygonalfortress Жыл бұрын

    Arguably in my opinion the biggest historical what if moment considering that they could've put a quick end to the war in Europe at least.

  • @Septimus_ii

    @Septimus_ii

    Жыл бұрын

    German generals really liked writing after the war. The French squandering a chance to win easily in 1939 makes for a really good story to sell books, but we'll never know what would have happened if the concerted attack had really come.

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    French could occupy left bank of Rhine if they did prepare 40 divisions attack as was agreed with Poland, but actually only half of that was doing the Saar offensive. France failed mobilization. With 20 divisions only they could go no further than Saarland and Palantinate.

  • @alexzero3736

    @alexzero3736

    Жыл бұрын

    @Tim Onk my world is real, it s called theorizing and analysys

  • @magni5648

    @magni5648

    Жыл бұрын

    @@alexzero3736 They agreed to 40 divisions WITHIN A MONTH. Which, uh, means 40 divisions by the time the Germans are already cleaning out the last defenders of Warsaw, and are more than prepared to defend against a 40-division offensive in the west. Nobody expected the Wehrmacht to go and overrun the entirety of Poland in 35 days.

  • @chrisbergonzi7977
    @chrisbergonzi7977 Жыл бұрын

    Failed? Abandoned is a better description. Great stuff....thanks...

  • @Nathan-pw9nl
    @Nathan-pw9nl Жыл бұрын

    Gamelin is that one guy in a show who could stop the villian and kill him then and there, but hesitates and the villian kills him.

  • @truffings3351
    @truffings3351 Жыл бұрын

    Frances invasion is like if you are firing a gun and instead of a “bang” you just hear a “click”

  • @c0rnp0p80
    @c0rnp0p80 Жыл бұрын

    I feel bad for those French soldiers. They were brave enough to invade Nazi Germany, but their leadership was absolutely useless.

  • @eridjonavdulaj2386

    @eridjonavdulaj2386

    Жыл бұрын

    They Woud never have defeated the Nazi Germany lol . Stop dreaming 💀

  • @ianshaver8954
    @ianshaver8954 Жыл бұрын

    WW2 Germany seems to have had some serious plot armor with this guy leading the French.

  • @craftxlgamer6902
    @craftxlgamer6902 Жыл бұрын

    Cowardness when it affecting highs ranks officers can do way more damage then any battle. You could almost say that France was betrayed by theirs leader.

  • @ViquelOoste
    @ViquelOoste Жыл бұрын

    In France we use to say ''learning tales of world war 2 without world war 1 is like starting a book from the middle''

  • @camilla_k97
    @camilla_k97 Жыл бұрын

    About the start of the WW2. Remember, the Soviet Union invaded Poland together with Nazi Germany and treated the local population not better than Nazi's. The Soviet Union was an ally of Hitler. Eventually, Soviets were punished, anyway.

  • @BenyNukem

    @BenyNukem

    Жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately, they where not punished -they where rewarded with ;land lease transfer of goods and technology (including nuclear capabilities) and half of Europe, occupied after war for almost a half century. Their evil system had no Norymberg trails ,as result in many counties we can see symbols of communism in the public space. Good luck walking the street with a swastika on t-shirt, I don't recommend it. But red commies symbols ,no problem! Results we see today in Ukraine.

  • @Techgnome21
    @Techgnome216 ай бұрын

    I love the little known parts of history!!! Awesome video!! It blows my mind that the French high command would not press their advantage.