Chapter 435 North African Campaign (3)

France's performance in World War II is often the subject of ridicule among military enthusiasts, rivaling that of Italy.

However, prior to World War I, France was the second largest colonial power, just behind the British Empire. Its colonies spanned all continents, covering an area of over 12 million square kilometers. It's not an exaggeration to say that, besides the British Empire, France could also be called an empire where the sun never sets.

With such vast colonies and the need to protect such extensive interests, the combat power of the French army was undoubtedly formidable. Since the Napoleonic era, the French military had been strong, constantly competing with Britain for over a century in numerous battles, both big and small.

In the mid to late 19th century, with the rise of Prussia, France gained another enemy and began to vie with Germany for dominance in Europe.

Prussia, seeking to unify Germany, defeated Denmark and Austria in 1864 and 1866, respectively. However, France continued to manipulate the southern German states behind the scenes, attempting to thwart German unification.

On July 14, 1870, Prussian Chancellor Bismarck issued the provocative "Ems Dispatch" regarding the Spanish throne succession, enraging the French government. On July 19, France declared war on Prussia, but the French army suffered consecutive defeats once the war began. On September 2, Emperor Napoleon III led nearly 100,000 French troops to surrender at Sedan. On September 4, a revolution broke out in Paris, and the French bourgeoisie established the Third Republic, ending the Second Empire.

Despite this, the Prussian army continued its advance. On January 18, 1871, King Wilhelm I of Prussia was crowned Emperor in the Palace of Versailles, establishing the German Empire. The French bourgeois government sought an armistice. On February 26, both sides signed a preliminary treaty in Versailles. The formal treaty was signed in Frankfurt on May 10.

France's crushing defeat in the Franco-Prussian War did not quell their spirit. They continued to challenge Germany, learning from the lessons of the Franco-Prussian War. They reconciled with Britain, forming an alliance to counter Germany, determined to defeat it.

When World War I broke out, France led the charge, fighting valiantly. Ultimately, they, along with Britain, defeated Germany. The French army's performance was so valiant that it almost matched the Napoleonic era.

However, after enduring the brutal war, France, as a victorious nation, became less aggressive, no longer as belligerent or defiant, even becoming somewhat of a recluse.

This change is understandable. Before World War I, France was renowned as a nation of high lenders, with a prosperous treasury (following the Franco-Prussian War, France paid Germany 5 billion gold francs in reparations; equivalent to 14 years of French military expenditure and a year's worth of exports. Through three national loans, France raised 45 billion gold francs, nine times the reparation amount!), and strong national power.

However, the devastating World War I not only emptied France's treasury but also left it heavily indebted (owing $3.991 billion to the US and $3.03 billion to the UK. The Bolshevik government in Russia refused to acknowledge the tsarist debts, making France's situation even worse, with a budget deficit of 18 billion francs in 1918).

To raise funds, France even offended Britain and the US by sending troops to the Ruhr to demand reparations from Germany. This rash action left France politically isolated and economically unfulfilled. The proceeds from the Ruhr occupation, after deducting military expenses, were only 500 million francs. Occupying the Ruhr led Germany to halt reparations, which constituted a significant portion of France's share, further damaging its financial credibility; it was a case of losing more than gaining.

Moreover, France lost an entire generation in the war, with over 2.8 million soldiers killed or wounded, turning it from a populous European power into a "widow nation."

Labor losses due to wartime production and frontline duties amounted to 1.365 million, with total casualties exceeding 5 million. The labor shortage severely impacted France's industrial production and economic development, making even conscription a challenge.

Finally, due to economic depression and social unrest, France faced continuous domestic turmoil, slowing its development. This situation caused France to slide from the top tier to a quasi-top tier, falling to the same level as Italy.

Such was the extent of World War I's damage that it filled the French with a deep-seated fear of war. It wasn't that the French didn't want to be high-profile; their strength simply didn't allow it.

Although France was still claimed to be the world's top military power, its large army was mostly a patchwork of farmers and retirees, many without proper training. Despite France's strong industrial capacity, its operating rate was severely inadequate, with industrial output less than one-third of Germany's. France appeared strong but was, in fact, weak, living off past glories.

When World War II broke out, France quickly revealed its true nature, collapsing after just one round with Germany and remaining inactive until the war's end. Fortunately, leaders like de Gaulle fled overseas to join the Allies, allowing France to emerge as a victorious nation without much contribution, effectively becoming one of the earliest players in a co-op game to win without much effort.

Nevertheless, Germany only occupied mainland France in Europe. Outside Europe, France still had over 12 million square kilometers of colonies scattered across the globe, such as French colonies in West and North Africa, Indochina in Southeast Asia, and French Guiana in the Americas.

After France's surrender, the country was divided by Germany. Sixty percent of its territory, including the capital Paris, was directly occupied by Germany. The remaining 40% in the south was governed by the Vichy regime under Marshal Pétain, though this so-called Vichy government was essentially a puppet regime controlled by Germany.

In theory, France's vast overseas colonies were to be managed by Vichy France. However, with only 100,000 troops and under direct German control, the Vichy government lacked the capability and strength to maintain control over France's vast overseas colonies.

Naturally, various countries began eyeing France's wealthy colonies, and several nations, including the Allies, started targeting French colonies. For instance, Britain, with the cooperation of de Gaulle's Free French forces, occupied regions such as Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East, and Madagascar in Africa.

From August to November 1940, large swathes of French African colonies, including Chad, Congo, Cameroon, Ubangi-Shari, and Gabon, joined Free France. Previously, French colonies occupied by Britain, such as Syria, Lebanon, and North Africa, also came under de Gaulle's leadership.

Thus, during World War II, after France's surrender, its colonies were divided into two parts: the largest portion in the hands of the Allies, including Free France, and another portion still under Vichy France's control.