Actually I think the French were quite clever. The mysterious fall of France points to the fact that maybe Richard III despite his 'attitude' is on to something. If France had allied itself with the Germans too soon it would be difficult to get Italy and Spain onboard the German Neuropa plan. Also it would have been very easy for the British Empire to cut French oil suplies from Iraq. It was a much better strategy to pretend to be onboard with Britain and secure oil reserves and British involvement on the continent. I think this is why Churchill was hesitant to commit more british fighterplanes to the 'battle' of France. If the British had commited more than a token force it would be practical from a German perspective to simply crush the BEF on the continent instad of having to transport them across the channel.
The subsequent peace after the 'fall' of France was indeed characterized by an exceptional tranquil mood. Only the French communist cadres offered any meaningful resistance.
Were the plan went awry was of course when the American agent Churchill refused to offer Germany peace, wherupon the British in quick succesion invaded Iraq after a German coup there and later attacked and sunk large parts of the Vichy french fleet.
Also the intense co-operation between France and Germany after the war points to the fact that economic integration of Europe was perhaps envisioned before, as a sort of anti-communist ploy. One has sometimes to look at were we are and then seek explanations for how we got here in the first place.
Pls keep it on-topic and talk about French tanks, and stop speculating about the fall of France. Thanks - XIII
