Quote:
Originally Posted by Retlaw
Sorry Jay, but as mich as I dislike the frogs, they lost a hell of a lot more men in battles during WW1 than we did, one of the main reasons for the battle of the Somme July 1st 1916, was to relieve pressure on the frogs, who were loosing men faster than they could replace them.
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In "Price of Glory" Alistair Horne details the horrendous losses and great courage of the French Army at Verdun. Even more than the British generals, those in command of the French Army threw brave men into futile attacks, notably in the Nivelle Offensive in 1917. Horne's thesis, explored in "To Lose a Battle" lays the blame for the poor showing of the French Army in 1940 to the losses in battles like Verdun, and the Maginot (himself a wounded vet of Verdun) Mentality on their desire to avoid the losses of WWl ... ironically, a strategy based on the success of the fortifications at Verdun, particularly Forts Douaumont and Vaux.