80 years ago, on 14 June 1940, the French capital was handed over to the Nazis without a fight. Among the most instructive lessons in the history of the Second world war should include the dramatic mistakes of European leaders in the prewar period. Pacifying people, and often pandering to the Nazis, they put their people on the verge of physical survival.
Chamberlain brought the war
In 2008, being in business trip in Paris, inadvertently witnessed the scandalous stories, the echoes of which have not subsided today. In the city’s historic library opened an exhibition of photographs by Andre Zucca (Andre Zucca). It was a shock not only among the Parisians but also tourists, who are always in the French capital.
it would Seem that unusual: the color photos are always a beautiful city, the streets are smiling, not just good, but fashionably dressed people, restaurant tables placed on the sidewalks and a lot of visitors and a brass band at the Republic square performs military marches, near the bridge Sorbonne University organized beach with dozens of tourists, young Parisians rather cozy with toned officers. Unusual one here: all these joyous events taking place on the streets of Paris in 1940 – 1944, during the national tragedy of the occupation of France by the Nazis.
Andre Zucca photographer is not entirely private. A Frenchman by nationality, in the years of occupation he worked as an employee of the German propaganda magazine “Signal” that the office of Goebbels and published in all the occupied countries. The Nazis appreciated him. He not only received huge wages, but also had the opportunity to shoot at a very rare in those years, color film, and worked with expensive photographic equipment.
the Propaganda thrust of his photographs are not especially and disappears. Officers in the German field uniform, walking arm in arm with Mademoiselle; in the centre of the French capital waving a huge flag with a swastika; a cinema on the Champs Elysees invites you to watch movies soldiers of the Fuhrer; the Rue de Rivoli resignedly walks an elderly Jewish woman with a yellow star on her coat. With a hunted look, but still alive. Nazis it gets better soon.
got a photo and a poster, are invited to the exhibition in the hall Wagram. The exhibition is called “Bolshevism against Europe”. Note that the Bolsheviks at that time were far away have not yet arrived on the tanks to liberate Europe. But Hitler’s army occupied France, the Nazis shot of the Resistance fighters, the SS wiped off the face of the earth, the village of Oradour, killing more than 600 residents of the country EN masse were taken for later extermination of Jews. All this happened with the active cooperation of the collaborationist government with the Nazis and the tacit participation of the majority of the French.
the Organizersora exhibition probably didn’t expect such a strong reaction from those who remember history. Resented all: both the left and right, and even sexual minorities. The municipality was forced to prohibit advertising of the exhibition in the streets of Paris and demanded to accompany the exhibit explaining about how hard life was for the French during the occupation. And it is limited.
would Not return to this story, but the war memory that took place in recent years in the former Soviet Union and now in Europe, make something to remind politicians who wish to rewrite the history of the Second world war, to blame all the troubles of this war, the Soviet Union, Russian.
the Second world war ended with the signing of instrument of surrender. Tell that captive field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, to see the French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, ready to sign, asked Marshall Georgy Zhukov: “We lost the war in Russia, England and America. But we still France won. Where and when?”.
the Irony of Hitler’s field Marshal can understand. Starting with the infamous Munich agreement of 1938, the most influential European powers – Britain and France opened a green light to Nazi aggression, which was subsequently paid. Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland were swallowed without a sound. Outrage and protests, of course, were heard in the parliaments, media, also active diplomats, sending countless and pointless notes in Berlin. Separate sober voices of major politicians, such as Winston Churchill, called to stop Hitler, in France, strongly protested against the government’s appeasement of Nazism, the Communists and the social Democrats, but army generals and Navy admirals were Napping after lunch, and the guns and tanks rusting in the hangars. Further Hitler’s plans for the conquest of “living space” for Germany it was easy to read. And it was unexpected for the Europeans.
Before the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia, the Nazis not only demonstrated military power, but also put moral pressure on the Europeans. Here is the answer of Hermann Goering on the peace-loving President of Czechoslovakia Edvard Benes: “a Petty segment of Europe excites humanity… This little race of pygmies-the Czechs – without any culture – nobody knows where they came from, oppressing a cultured people and behind them are the Moscow and damn the Jewish mask of the devil”. Quoting Goering is not accidental. The leaders of the Prague of our day it would be nice to remember who liberated their city from the Nazis in 1945, and whose monument they demolished in 2020, and insulting the memory of Marshal Konev and thousands of Soviet soldiers who died in battles for liberation of Czechoslovakia.
After the Munich agreement, it became clear: apart from the Germans no one in Europe forü doesn’t want to. Present at the signing of this agreement is accredited in Germany in the prewar years, the American journalist William Shirer wrote bitterly: “I had the opportunity to observe during these endless, strangely unreal 24 hours, Daladier and Chamberlain (British Prime Ministers of France and great Britain – R. G.) still never demanded Hitler no concessions. They never met in private and made no attempts to act like a single “democratic” front, in front of the two dictators. Hitler met Mussolini at the station… and they made a plan. Daladier and Chamberlain flew everyone on the plane yesterday and did not even bother to have Breakfast together to produce the strategy, as did the dictators.
With Czechoslovakia, which was asked to make all the sacrifices in the name of peace in Europe, are not consulted at any stage of the negotiations. Its two representatives at one-thirty of the night it was said that Czechoslovakia will have to obey, and it is written not by Hitler, but by Chamberlain and Daladier. Their protests, we heard it, a high state husband just made a fool of. Chamberlain was similar to black vulture, whom I had seen in Bombay. He looked particularly pleased with himself when he returned early in the morning at the hotel Regina, although slightly tired, but pleasantly tired”.
to this we must add that after returning to London, Chamberlain posing for reporters at the ramp, having shook the air with a piece of paper: “I have brought you peace!”. It was a lie. Chamberlain brought to England a quick war, the death, the death of thousands of people. But in the UK there were other policy, soberly evaluate what happened in Munich. That’s what it said Churchill, addressing the House of Commons: “We suffered a complete, absolute defeat… don’t let it blind you. We must anticipate that all of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will go to great concessions to the triumphant Nazi power… one after another would be embroiled in a vast system of Nazi politics, not only military but also economic, coming from Berlin.” But these words were not heard. Europe, as it seemed, celebrated the victory. She really brought the war to its borders.
people from the past
“Paris is a scary place. – wrote in those days, American “New York Herald”. He’s fully succumbed to defeatism, no idea what happened to the rest of France. The “Fouquet” and “Maxim” (upscale and trendy Parisian restaurants – RG) fat bankers and businessmen to celebrate world rivers of champagne. But even waiters and taxi drivers usually reasonable people, ranting how great that we managed to avoid the war that it would be a crime that they did some fighting last ��Ainu and that’s enough.
it would have been great if the Germans, who also had enough fighting in the last war, would experience the same feelings, but it’s not. The courage of France… where is it? French socialists imbued with pacifism; the French right-wing or fascists, or defeatists. I don’t understand French”.
Germany before the invasion of estimated possible losses in the operation to capture the Benelux and France in 1940, to 290 thousand people. Was considered acceptable if victory will be provided when numbers of 90 thousand 200 dead and thousands wounded. In fact, Germany lost over six weeks of fighting three times less dead (29 640) and almost half of the wounded (133 000). Hitler was pleasantly surprised by the ease of victories and went on a rare in the history of Germany step by setting the title of field Marshal his 12 generals. Including, by the way, Keitel.
France in the prewar years was not only a country of good wine, classic cheese and the famous variety show. By the beginning of hostilities with the Nazis, it had the third highest number of tanks and planes army in the world, behind only the USSR and Germany and the fourth after the UK, USA and Japan by the Navy.
Under arms in the armed forces of the Third Republic were more than two million people. The French air force consisted of about 3,300 airplanes, and half of them had the newest fighting vehicles. Germany at that period could only count on 1 of 180 cars. After France landed British expeditionary force (that’s 9 full divisions and 1,500 aircraft), the advantage of the allies over the Wehrmacht became overwhelming.
All of these forces were milled German war machine within a few months. Amazingly, almost all military equipment had not been destroyed by the panic of the retreating allies and got in the operating state of the German army. Very soon she was useful to the Nazis in the attack on the Soviet Union. As ironically remarked about the loser French generals Russian historian Oleg Budnitskii: “It was people from the past who were preparing for the last war.”
the Disaster and the rapid defeat of France made me think not only the Europeans, but also other big powers. About this in detail Stalin said at the solemn reception in the Kremlin in honor graduates of military academies on may 5, 1941: “the Military thought of the French army was moving forward. She remained at the level of 1918. The army didn’t care, and she had no moral support. There is a new morality, corrupting the army. The military treated lightly. The commanders began to look like losers, as the last people who, having no factories, plants, banks, shops were forced to join the army. For the military, even women married don’t go out.”
In Europe did not understand or would not understand that Hitler will not stop until under his hand will be the entire European continent. Here is what William Shearer January 18, 1940, from Amsterdam: “the Dutch still lead the correct lifestyle. The food they eat – both in quality and quantity (oysters, fowl, meats, vegetables, oranges, bananas, coffee – something you never see warring Nations) is fantastic. They dine, dance, go to Church, and ride in channels on the skates and do their business. And they do not notice how blind they are! – the dangers that threaten them… They want peace and comfortable life, but do not want to sacrifice anything, or simply to make tough decisions to ensure your way of life a long time.”
on 9 April 1940, German military machine moved into Denmark and Norway. The Norwegians resisted for about two months, but all the strategic locations of the capital: ports, railway stations, power stations were brought under control by the Nazis on the first day. The war with Denmark lasted four (!) hours.
Later military historians joked: “the Danes had laid down their arms and taking it in hand”. When at 5.15 am sleepy Danish king Christian X had reported the ultimatum to Germany, he immediately, as they say, not looking up from the pillow, announced the surrender. By the time the country lost in battle 12 of its citizens. Later, trying to save face, Danish politicians came up with the reasoning of the shameful act of surrender: “to entrust the protection of its neutrality the Reich.” It seems that you allowed the bandit to his house, he is prudently to your bed, and the neighbors you explain that unexpected guest is going to protect you. Interestingly, the Nazis were in such a rush trying to read in the captured in the Copenhagen radio station address Fuhrer to the people … of Norway. He caught himself at the last moment and began to alter.
a month after Denmark and Norway the Germans invaded France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Amazingly, the day before the attack in the Belgian army monthly leave was extended from three to five days. At the right moment, would-be warriors in the strategically important Belgian Fort on the albert canal were faulty signal gun. As in Poland, German bombers destroyed most of the Belgian and Dutch fleet in the hangar.
the French commander, General Maurice Gamelin is located to the outbreak of hostilities not on the front line, in the Paris suburb of Vincennes. Beside him and also quite far from the front line comfortably settled officers from the command and General staff of the air force. Gentlemen regularly traveled to Paris by taxi, where fun and carefree spending time in restaurants and varieties. The descendants of the aristocratic FA��Eli, an elderly French generals markedly inferior to the young German generals.
Left much to be desired and combat training of the armies of Western Europe. One of the most powerful military installations in Belgium was the fortress Banamali. Its redoubts, strong fortifications, stockpiling weapons, food, and a large combat-ready garrison could permanently block the advance of the 6th army of Walther von Reichenau. However, the Nazis with the help of transport “Junkers” was taken and put on the roof of the fortress troops of 11 gliders. 85 German paratroopers after a lightning attack destroyed all (!) gun emplacements and captured the Fort, which was defended by a garrison of 1,200.
went to the Roof and the French. After the tanks Ewald von Kleist and Heinz Guderian defeated the French at Sedan, the French field commander, General Alphonse Georges, as eyewitnesses testify,… burst into tears. Do you need this comment?
the Fall of Paris happened catastrophically and shamefully. On the evening of 11 June the French government fled the capital, declaring Paris an “open city.” On 14 June the city was surrendered to the Nazis. Of the five million population of three million people fled in panic. During the evacuation of medical institutions nontransportable patients were administered lethal injection in the city the kids are throwing the elderly, and parents lost children.
After the war came to light the shameful cases of betrayal and moral degradation. German newsreel footage depicting the visit of the French capital conquered by Adolf Hitler and the French police, humbly saluting the dictator. The commander of French armored division, tried to defend the bridge over the Loire, was killed by local inhabitants do not want the fighting took place near their vineyards and stables. The mayors of the cities prevented the deployment of units of the French army on “their” territory, fearing the fighting and destruction.
as a result of humiliating defeat in the thrall of the Germans were more than half a million soldiers of the French army. It was mostly the people who make war and not in time. The terms of surrender were unprecedented hard and showed the world some would like to see the Nazis conquered Europe. More than half of the country passed under the control of the occupation authorities. At the same time, foreign soldiers should feed was, of course, the French.
Until now, military historians cross swords over the lack of foresight of the Soviet leadership, not plazewski military preparations of Germany and not to believe whistle-blowers, who warned Stalin about the beginning of the war. But in Western Europe saw the führer is preparing for war with them. And here received intelligence reports about plans of Hitler. What’s more, leading German politicians and officials who were in opposition to the plans of the Nazis, came to London, Paris, Geneva, to inform European colleagues. But still the aggression was unexpected.
We will never surrender
But the failures of the military command and defeatist stance of politicians do not detract from the merits of ordinary soldiers and officers who fought against the Nazis in Europe. During the tragic evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk Lieutenant wild Furness of the Welsh guards regiment rushed a German machine-gun nest to save his comrades. One of the best fighter pilots in New Zealand Richards, who fought in the British army, according to August 1040 destroyed in the fighting 17 German planes. His fighter “Spitfire” was shot down seven times, three times he escaped using a parachute, and once rammed “Messerschmitt”. Twice he put the burning car and had on earth to leave her before the explosion. Remember it!
the British casualties during the battles for France were enormous: more than 60 thousand dead and 40 thousand in captivity. Even more painful was the loss of moral. Commenting on the evacuation of troops from France, Churchill declared in the House of Commons: “We must not ascribe this deliverance from trouble the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations. We will not pomicnim and will not give up. We will go to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight in the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds, in fields and in the streets. We will never surrender”.
Churchill kept his word. The British fought with honor, and in the defeat of the Nazis is their significant contribution.
Only thanks to their victories in 1939-1940 Germany was able to form a powerful military support of allies, strengthening his rear, to solve many economic problems. Without this, Hitler would never dare attack the USSR.
