About French military history (not another bash)

Haiw · 03-01-2004, 03:33 PM

I always hear the stories about the French military history without a single victory. However, there's one thing that puzzles me. How did they ever become a colonial power when they sucked as much as they 'supposedly' did?

Argyll · 03-01-2004, 03:36 PM

this will be interesting......................

Midtown · 03-01-2004, 03:57 PM

Who is gonna turn down bread and drink?
If we didnt have an over abundance of beer and pizza here, we might even like the french

Caesar · 03-01-2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haiw

I always hear the stories about the French military history without a single victory. However, there's one thing that puzzles me. How did they ever become a colonial power when they sucked as much as they 'supposedly' did?

Seriously, how do you think this thread will stay clean with such an ignorent comment from his author?

You can read some books ya know...

This thread is starting damn bad.

n.ignomo · 03-01-2004, 05:12 PM

The point is that you start from a point where you think France never won. Actually, bellicism isn't a reason to rewrite history the way you want. I mean who on this forum would say Germany never won a war? That's completly wrong just for one reason : many wars. I think all countries have won even once a war (except civil ones which makes only losers). According to caesar, go get a military history book, study it, or just go on the www you'll get all the infos needed.
Anyway, this thread is useless.

California Joe · 03-01-2004, 05:21 PM

They had a pretty good run under Napoleon. Duh. Their Imperial Guards were known as the "Hammer of Europe" Until he ran into The Iron Duke and the Russian winter they were kicking ass.

The Legion conducted one of the most successful anti terrorism campaigns in Algeria ever. They were sold out by politicians and rebelled.

Just a couple of examples....

Haiw · 03-01-2004, 05:50 PM

I know about Napoleon and the actions in Algeria, but I was just wondering about the REAL French military history in 'the old days', as every French basher and his dog always runs the good old 'they only had defeats'-record. So I'm just curious, (and since it's pretty flamable I put it in off-topic), are the bashers just totally crap on history, or were the French just lucky when building their colonial power.

Jack Mehoff · 03-01-2004, 05:57 PM

All I know is they got their ass kicked by the British several times both in Europe and North America. France also lost a huge chunk of their empire in North America to the British, no wonder why the hostility between French and British still last to this day

Beowulf · 03-01-2004, 05:57 PM

Well, Charles "the hammer" Martel beat a bunch of saracens at Poitiers 700ad? +/- (edit 732)

Then his grandson Charlemagne did some stuff, King of the Franks, and Holy Roman Emperor or some such stuff.

n.ignomo · 03-01-2004, 06:30 PM

Hem a lil' precision, we didn't lose louisiane (old one, 1/4th of current USA)....we just sold it to the british, just like the russian with alaska. Why did we sell it, because we were fighting against the whole Europe so we needed money. As you can see, US don't speak french, but France still exists, let's not start playing "if it had not..." !
Actually , you can compare France's wars during XVIII/XIXth century as WW2 for Germany : alone against everybody else. Most of these wars were for political reasons, which was a new things, most were economic before. About Charlemagne, one of his grand-son created feodality (capitulaire de Mersen et de Quierzy-sur-Oise 748). I don't know if some of you here are keen on medieval age, but if you're interested in historical military of France, this is a time to consider.

memphiz · 03-01-2004, 07:14 PM

they're still in Canada(Quebec etc.) thats gotta mean somthing. and all the bad French are it the southern states

Caesar · 03-01-2004, 07:42 PM

It reminds me of Jeanne d'Arc who kicked the English out of Orleans but got judged and executed by her own country...

France was so powerful back then that the most important and speaken language in the world was French. It was Latin and Greek before, now it's english. It's just normal process in history.

What language will be next?

XD-40 · 03-01-2004, 08:01 PM

French are not cowards as some others call them that way. It is just their politicians. I know personally several members of French army. One is a paratrooper, and their paratroopers are very good.

As for their military history, they were occupied because their military leadership did make few bad decisions in early WW2. For some reasons they were not so creative in WW2 to prevail. Plus they also had those who oppenly collaborated.

The thing that I dislike about French, and even my French friends agree about, is that they like to stick etiquetes about some other nations especially smaller nations. And all of that from a nation that has its own bugs.

stateofequilibrium · 03-01-2004, 08:21 PM

The French just get greedy and then everything goes to $hit.

But otherwise, they've had some outstanding periods. Does anyone know the history and tactics employed at Waterloo? I remember reading on it so long ago. While we think about the boxed formations immortalized in paintings and representations that staved off Napoleon's cavalry and army.. I did get the general feeling that both sides were being pounded upon and it was Napoleon's error not to have available enough reserves to b*tchslap Wellington, and also pesky bad luck and timing right from the beginning despite a sound plan.

California Joe · 03-01-2004, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n.ignomo

Hem a lil' precision, we didn't lose louisiane (old one, 1/4th of current USA)....we just sold it to the british, just like the russian with alaska. Why did we sell it, because we were fighting against the whole Europe so we needed money. As you can see, US don't speak french, but France still exists, let's not start playing "if it had not..." !
Actually , you can compare France's wars during XVIII/XIXth century as WW2 for Germany : alone against everybody else. Most of these wars were for political reasons, which was a new things, most were economic before. About Charlemagne, one of his grand-son created feodality (capitulaire de Mersen et de Quierzy-sur-Oise 748). I don't know if some of you here are keen on medieval age, but if you're interested in historical military of France, this is a time to consider.

You sold Lousiane to the United States......not Britain. Just........you know....sayin.

03-01-2004, 03:33 PM	#1
Haiw Clog Boy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: 'Home is where I masturbate...' Age: 23 Posts: 14,064	About French military history (not another bash) I always hear the stories about the French military history without a single victory. However, there's one thing that puzzles me. How did they ever become a colonial power when they sucked as much as they 'supposedly' did?

03-01-2004, 03:36 PM	#2
Argyll Virtual Warrior Inc. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Basra, Iraq Posts: 12,789	this will be interesting......................

03-01-2004, 03:57 PM	#3
Midtown Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minnesnowta Age: 27 Posts: 2,437	Who is gonna turn down bread and drink? If we didnt have an over abundance of beer and pizza here, we might even like the french

03-01-2004, 05:12 PM	#5
n.ignomo Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Army Posts: 655	The point is that you start from a point where you think France never won. Actually, bellicism isn't a reason to rewrite history the way you want. I mean who on this forum would say Germany never won a war? That's completly wrong just for one reason : many wars. I think all countries have won even once a war (except civil ones which makes only losers). According to caesar, go get a military history book, study it, or just go on the www you'll get all the infos needed. Anyway, this thread is useless.

03-01-2004, 05:21 PM	#6
California Joe No Good Bloody Seppo Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Staring at goats till their hearts explode... Age: 46 Posts: 25,424	They had a pretty good run under Napoleon. Duh. Their Imperial Guards were known as the "Hammer of Europe" Until he ran into The Iron Duke and the Russian winter they were kicking ass. The Legion conducted one of the most successful anti terrorism campaigns in Algeria ever. They were sold out by politicians and rebelled. Just a couple of examples....

03-01-2004, 05:50 PM	#7
Haiw Clog Boy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: 'Home is where I masturbate...' Age: 23 Posts: 14,064	I know about Napoleon and the actions in Algeria, but I was just wondering about the REAL French military history in 'the old days', as every French basher and his dog always runs the good old 'they only had defeats'-record. So I'm just curious, (and since it's pretty flamable I put it in off-topic), are the bashers just totally crap on history, or were the French just lucky when building their colonial power.

03-01-2004, 05:57 PM	#8
Jack Mehoff Banned user/ Numpty Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 10,734	All I know is they got their ass kicked by the British several times both in Europe and North America. France also lost a huge chunk of their empire in North America to the British, no wonder why the hostility between French and British still last to this day

03-01-2004, 05:57 PM	#9
Beowulf "It's a Toyota D*ckhead" Join Date: May 2003 Location: Stay in your goddamned fanboy lane. Posts: 5,948	Well, Charles "the hammer" Martel beat a bunch of saracens at Poitiers 700ad? +/- (edit 732) Then his grandson Charlemagne did some stuff, King of the Franks, and Holy Roman Emperor or some such stuff.

03-01-2004, 06:30 PM	#10
n.ignomo Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Army Posts: 655	Hem a lil' precision, we didn't lose louisiane (old one, 1/4th of current USA)....we just sold it to the british, just like the russian with alaska. Why did we sell it, because we were fighting against the whole Europe so we needed money. As you can see, US don't speak french, but France still exists, let's not start playing "if it had not..." ! Actually , you can compare France's wars during XVIII/XIXth century as WW2 for Germany : alone against everybody else. Most of these wars were for political reasons, which was a new things, most were economic before. About Charlemagne, one of his grand-son created feodality (capitulaire de Mersen et de Quierzy-sur-Oise 748). I don't know if some of you here are keen on medieval age, but if you're interested in historical military of France, this is a time to consider.

03-01-2004, 07:14 PM	#11
memphiz Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alcholous Anomonics Age: 13 Posts: 9,383	they're still in Canada(Quebec etc.) thats gotta mean somthing. and all the bad French are it the southern states

03-01-2004, 07:42 PM	#12
Caesar Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Age: 25 Posts: 643	It reminds me of Jeanne d'Arc who kicked the English out of Orleans but got judged and executed by her own country... France was so powerful back then that the most important and speaken language in the world was French. It was Latin and Greek before, now it's english. It's just normal process in history. What language will be next?

03-01-2004, 08:01 PM	#13
XD-40 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7	French are not cowards as some others call them that way. It is just their politicians. I know personally several members of French army. One is a paratrooper, and their paratroopers are very good. As for their military history, they were occupied because their military leadership did make few bad decisions in early WW2. For some reasons they were not so creative in WW2 to prevail. Plus they also had those who oppenly collaborated. The thing that I dislike about French, and even my French friends agree about, is that they like to stick etiquetes about some other nations especially smaller nations. And all of that from a nation that has its own bugs.

03-01-2004, 08:21 PM	#14
stateofequilibrium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 574	The French just get greedy and then everything goes to $hit. But otherwise, they've had some outstanding periods. Does anyone know the history and tactics employed at Waterloo? I remember reading on it so long ago. While we think about the boxed formations immortalized in paintings and representations that staved off Napoleon's cavalry and army.. I did get the general feeling that both sides were being pounded upon and it was Napoleon's error not to have available enough reserves to b*tchslap Wellington, and also pesky bad luck and timing right from the beginning despite a sound plan.