| The Collapse Of The Third Republic - An Inquiry into the Fall of the France in 1940
(1969)
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| Front Cover |
Book Details |
Back Cover |
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| Genre |
Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
France - History - 1914-1940 |
| Publication Date |
1/13/1969 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.4
x
6.5
mm)
|
| Publisher |
Simon & Schuster |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
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|
| Description |
| After setting the stage with a look at the founding of the Republic in 1871, describes the political, social, and religious divisions in the country, the "Maginot Line complex" growing out of military trust in a defensive war, and the deleterious effect of the tragedy of World War I. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
AbeBooks |
| Purchase Price |
$7.04 |
| Acquire Date |
6/20/2019 |
| Condition |
Good/Fair |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
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|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
DC396 .S48 1969 |
| Dewey |
944.081 |
| ISBN |
9780671203375 |
| Cover Price |
$12.50 |
| No. of Pages |
1082 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
I've read quite a bit about the Second World War. I've read books about all the major campaigns and battles and most of the minor ones. But until now I have somehow managed to read almost nothing of the fall of France in 1940. I suspect a good excuse for this oversight is that this story would best be told from the French perspective and I've never come across any personal narratives from this campaign (except very brief ones from the German perspective).
I recently read Shirer's The Nightmare Years and learned that he wrote this book. So I ordered a copy.
I was a bit surprised at the length of it. Before scanning the table of contents, I expected to see a chapter or three of prologue with the bulk of the book taking place in 1939 and 1940. With a campaign that lasted only 6 weeks, I never imagined it would be possible to end up requiring a thousand pages to tell the story. So, of course, my preconceived notion was incorrect (as usual).
A completist might suggest that the story of the downfall of the Third Republic must begin with the beginning of the Third Republic. Shirer is a completist. To someone with very little understanding of French history, this was good. Context is king. I don't think I've ever complained about getting too much of it. (Although I can understand if some readers think 500 pages of it is a bit much.)
We start, as I've said, with the beginning of the Third Republic in 1870. The story ends not with the crushing defeat in battle and the signing of the Armistice on June 21, 1940, but with the final vote of the legislature on July 10, 1940, which made Petain dictator. The Republic was not lost in battle but was ended by her elected representatives voting to enact a Fascist dictatorship.
Many of my preconceptions of the French military were overturned (somewhat, at least). I had no real idea of French political leadership, so I lacked many wrong impressions. After reading this book, my opinion of their military is somewhat improved, but at the expense of their civilian leadership.
As a side note, my reading so far has built up an impression of Charles de Gaulle. That impression was mostly negative. Of all the figures brought up in this impressive and complete work, de Gaulle is the only one that I'm left wanting to learn more about. I will endeavor to find a good biography of him.
In addition to the 948 pages of text, the book includes notes, an index, and an extensive bibliography. It has a number of servicible maps but, sadly, no photographs. |
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