France and England on the eve of World War II

In the second half of 1937, another economic crisis began in the UK. The English economy was in a fever, the working class was on strike, and the capitalists were losing their profits in foreign markets. The pace of development of England ahead of Germany, the United States and even Italy. In such a situation, the main goal of the British government was to create a "strong state" like Nazi Germany. Chamberlain's course meant cooperation with Germany, which found support among the British monopolists. Since the beginning of the thirties, large industrialists and politicians have been preparing plans for an alliance with Hitler at the estate of the family of millionaires Astor. It was the so-called "Cleveden circle". However, the open support of the aggressive plans of the fascists by the government would have met with decisive resistance in the broad masses of the people.

France at that time was in a state of prolonged economic stagnation. Despite advanced metallurgical, electrical, chemical, metalworking, automotive and other enterprises in equipment, it lagged far behind Germany in terms of production volumes. From the winner who dictated the conditions of the Versailles Peace Treaty to Germany in 1919, France turned into an uncomplaining satellite of England. In the spring of 1938, the radical Edouard Daladier became the head of the country. His government 8% raised all government taxes. It was allowed to increase the duration of the working day for more than 40 hours per week, strikes were prohibited.

In the international arena, the common position of Britain and France was called the "policy of appeasement." They supported Germany’s claims to Eastern European countries, hoping in this way to secure Western states. In September, the head of the French government, Daladier, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler signed an agreement on the partition of Czechoslovakia in Munich, 1938.

In Munich, hoping to send a fascist invasion to the East, Chamberlain told Hitler: "You have enough planes to attack the USSR, especially since there is no longer any danger of basing Soviet planes on Czechoslovak airfields."

At the end of 1938, England and France, one after another, secure declarations with Germany on non-aggression and the establishment of peaceful good-neighborly relations. But just in case in March 1939, France and England exchanged their pledges of support in the event of war with Germany. Joint plans were developed, with the French military pinning their main hopes on the impregnable Maginot Line.

After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the fascists in Britain, anti-Hitler sentiment sharply increased. However, the British government, proceeding from the interests of a narrow circle of monopolists, still maintained a pernicious course for the country. Under pressure from public opinion in April 1939, Chamberlain was forced to agree to negotiations on mutual assistance between the USSR, Britain and France. They began on August 12 in Moscow. The main stumbling block was the question of allowing the unimpeded passage of Soviet troops through Poland.

The commander of the Polish armed forces, E. Rydz-Smigly, said: “Poland has always considered Russia, no matter who rules, its number one enemy. And if the German remains our opponent, he is at the same time a European and a man of order, while the Russians for the Poles are barbaric, Asian, destructive and corrupting elements, any contact with which will turn into evil, and any compromise will commit suicide. ”

In the negotiations, French diplomats behaved very strangely.

Litvinov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, wrote: “France, since the matter concerns us, as if it was completely blurred, leaving even England to speak with us.”

There was no answer from the government of England on all contentious issues, so the negotiations ended in nothing.

In the spring of 1939, secret cooperation talks were held between England, the United States and France. In the summer of that year, the United States of America visited the United States of America. The complication of the international situation forced 1939 to sign the Franco-Polish agreement on mutual military assistance in May. But the agreement omitted a section on the provision of “automatic military assistance” to Poland. Thus, the protocol did not oblige France, and therefore had no value.

September 1, 1939 strikes aviation and the German land attacks marked the beginning of the war with Poland. Many historians consider this day the beginning of World War II. Immediately England and France declared war on Nazi Germany, but at the same time tried to avoid any military action. Not a single shot was fired on the German-French border, not a single Allied aircraft took off, not a single French or English ship came to the rescue. The Polish army was crushed in two weeks. And England and France until May 1940 continued to wage this "strange war." Western states still hoped that Hitler would shift his attention to the USSR.

Since early September 1939, the French government has imposed martial law. Prohibited meetings, strikes, rallies, demonstrations. Holidays were canceled, the media were censored. In March, 1940, Paul Reynaud became the head of the government, replacing Edouard Daladier.

In May 1940, German troops swiftly marched through neutral countries — Belgium and Holland. Then the Nazis in the Sedan area broke through the Western Front and found themselves in the rear of the Anglo-French army, encircling it near Dunkirk. The British expeditionary force managed to evacuate with great effort, thanks to the Anglo-French the fleet. The French, having lost their support, hastily retreated to the capital. On June 10, German troops were already near Paris. On June 16, Paul Reynaud resigned with his government. His place was taken by 84-year-old Philip Petain, a supporter of an alliance with Germany. He immediately stopped the resistance and asked to announce the conditions of the world. On June 22, a humiliating Franco-German ceasefire was signed in Compiegne. The French army and navy disarmed and disbanded. France pledged to pay a huge occupation payment daily. Two-thirds of the country was occupied by the Germans. Only the south of France and the colonies remained under the control of the Petain government. All parties and trade unions were dissolved in the country. Petain was declared the head of state and the center of the executive and legislative branches. Propaganda quickly created a halo of the “savior of France”, which restored peace and prosperity to the country. Almost the entire economy of the great Western power worked for the needs of Germany. Enormous quantities of French workers were taken out to forced labor.

General de Gaulle, analyzing the reasons for the defeat, wrote: “Ultimately, the collapse of the state was the basis of the national catastrophe. In the brilliance of lightning, the regime appeared in all its terrifying weakness ... "

Britain continued the war. Fearing that Hitler would use the French fleet for his own purposes, on July 3 1940, the British attacked a French squadron in the harbor of Mers-el-Kebir in Algeria. Many ships were destroyed or damaged. In addition, England seized French ships in British ports and blocked the French fleet in the Egyptian port of Alexandria.

Along with the defeat of France began a long and dramatic story resistance to the German invaders. His leader was an outstanding military, political and statesman Charles de Gaulle.

18 June 1940 of the year on radio in London, de Gaulle delivered his famous speech for compatriots. It ended with the following words: "And whatever happens, the flame of the French Resistance should not go out and will not go out."

Comments

[Sakhalininsk]

France deservedly received what it was striving for - occupation by Germany! It was the stupidity of the French elite that led the Germans to spread the French army over a short period.
In my opinion, the inclusion of the French as a result of the war in the countries of the winners is a bust, all the greatness of the Krasnoshtanishks during the war led to a quick surrender and long waving backwards of Germany occupying France. And the fact that then they came in the rear orders of arrogant Saxons is not a great merit.

[Tirpitz]

You are right, I also consider France undeservedly ranked among the winners.

[Stas57]

as Keitel said
"How! Have we also lost the war in France? ”

[Alex]

Quote: Stas57

as Keitel said
"How! Have we also lost the war in France? ”

Here it is difficult to disagree with him. However, we would learn such impudence. Not to lie, but to defend their own dignity.

[Gazprom]

And everyone was asleep and saw how to incite Hitler against the USSR ...

[Svistoplyaskov]

Operation Catapult is the general name for a series of operations to capture and destroy the ships of the French fleet.
Result: A total of 1297 Frenchmen died in this battle, about 350 were injured.
Great Britain managed to destroy or capture some French ships of no military value.

[Ross]

And if the German remains our adversary, he is at the same time a European and a man of order, while the Russians for the Poles are barbaric, Asian, destructive and corrupting elements, any contact with which will turn into evil, and any compromise will be suicide. ”

This is what Europeanization is doing with the blood brothers Slavs who have forgotten their kinship.

[Forward]

And yet, something made Hitler not really "wag" small Britain ...

[Taratut]

You will be surprised. Fear and respect.
Hitler considered the British a people equal to the Germans.
And twenty English divisions were afraid of more than two hundred Soviet divisions.
I did not dare to "Sea Lion".

[Normal]

Yes, Grandfather Stalin was well versed in the rulers of France and England at that time. It’s a pity I couldn’t understand how crazy the carpet-wearer would be.

[AvtoVAZ]

Normal,
Hitlet was more normal than all other rulers of Europe. He simply did not take into account the staunchness of the Soviet people and his ability to sacrifice himself (he did not teach history well) and lost.

[Taratut]

Imagine a video of a boxing match in which one of the fighters was cut using computer technology. The actions of the remaining become inadequate. A man jumps in the ring, hits the air, aggressive as hell.
Similar articles are based on this principle.
The facts that fit into the desired concept are savored. Unstable - are ignored.
1. Poland refused to cooperate with Germany against the USSR.
Directly and unequivocally.
2. If England so desired Hitler’s attack on the USSR, why didn’t it sign the world after Dunkirk?
And here the policy of the USSR should not be given out as an example of peacefulness. Yes, Stalin wanted a war between Europe and Germany and France and France to take place not for life, but for death. And we, in the role of the third rejoicing, would wait for their weakening in order to dictate our will to all of Europe.
We also entered Spain for the purpose of kindling a fire in Europe. After all, nobody calls us Republicans. The same class enemies as Franco.

[Taratut]

Pensioner Molotov, talking about the last pre-war months of 1941, confined himself in private conversations to semi-confessions, but at the same time very significant: “A mistake was made, but, I would say, of a secondary nature, because they were afraid to impose war on themselves”; “Hitler had no choice but to attack us, although the war with England was not over, but he would never have finished it - try ending the war with England!”