The Complete Military History of France
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The Complete Military History of France
Something I found on another board; so whereever it originally came from, here's to ya.
The Complete Military History of France
* Gallic Wars - Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.
* Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
* Italian Wars - Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.
* Wars of Religion - France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots
* Thirty Years War - France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.
* War of Devolution - Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.
* The Dutch War - Tied
* War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.
* War of the Spanish Succession - Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.
* American Revolution - In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."
* French Revolution - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
* The Napoleonic Wars - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
* The Franco-Prussian War - Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.
* World War I - Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.
* World War II - Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.
* War in Indochina - Lost. French forces plead sickness, take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu
* Algerian Rebellion - Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First
Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.
* War on Terrorism - France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.
The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."
The Complete Military History of France
* Gallic Wars - Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.
* Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
* Italian Wars - Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.
* Wars of Religion - France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots
* Thirty Years War - France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.
* War of Devolution - Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.
* The Dutch War - Tied
* War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.
* War of the Spanish Succession - Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.
* American Revolution - In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."
* French Revolution - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
* The Napoleonic Wars - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
* The Franco-Prussian War - Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.
* World War I - Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.
* World War II - Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.
* War in Indochina - Lost. French forces plead sickness, take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu
* Algerian Rebellion - Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First
Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.
* War on Terrorism - France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.
The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."
Last edited by EmperorMing on 2003-02-20 04:44am, edited 1 time in total.
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smeg, thats funny, yet true on so may levels
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Re: The Complete Military History of France
A last minute win still counts as a win. The Frogs won the hundred years war by most any standard: there's no English territorial presense left on contenental Europe.EmperorMing wrote:* Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
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I trust it is FUQ bound?Dalton wrote:This is solid gold.
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Oh yeah, if Ming can find the original source...otherwise, I'll have to credit it otherwise.Stuart Mackey wrote:I trust it is FUQ bound?Dalton wrote:This is solid gold.
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I'm looking. I got this from the SFB universe board, and the guy who posted it so far has not listed his source...Dalton wrote:Oh yeah, if Ming can find the original source...otherwise, I'll have to credit it otherwise.Stuart Mackey wrote:I trust it is FUQ bound?Dalton wrote:This is solid gold.
Buzzard!
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Re: The Complete Military History of France
That's my favourite, right there.EmperorMing wrote:* French Revolution - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
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Re: The Complete Military History of France
False: Calais was English from 1347-1558Enlightenment wrote:A last minute win still counts as a win. The Frogs won the hundred years war by most any standard: there's no English territorial presense left on contenental Europe.EmperorMing wrote:* Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Re: The Complete Military History of France
Mine too. Just so...trueZaia wrote:That's my favourite, right there.EmperorMing wrote:* French Revolution - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.
To Absent Friends
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Oops! Somone forgot an entry:
"The War of Greenpeace – Lost. Thanks to Emperor Misha, for reminding Clubbeaux that after Frog frogmen bravely blew up an unarmed Greenpeace ship in Auckland Harbour in 1983 and bravely killed unarmed people doing so, thereby commencing hostilities, “the attack catapulted Greenpeace to the international spotlight, boosting its popularity and presence to record levels. The incident gave Greenpeace worldwide publicity and brought it a deluge of new members. Lloyd Cutler, former White House counsel to President Jimmy Carter, negotiated an $8 million settlement from the French Government.”
As Misha says, “You attack a bunch of filthy, granola-munching hippies and you end up having to fork over $8,000,000 to make them stop harrassing you? You surrendered to friggin’ GREENPEACE??? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”
"
Snicker...
"The War of Greenpeace – Lost. Thanks to Emperor Misha, for reminding Clubbeaux that after Frog frogmen bravely blew up an unarmed Greenpeace ship in Auckland Harbour in 1983 and bravely killed unarmed people doing so, thereby commencing hostilities, “the attack catapulted Greenpeace to the international spotlight, boosting its popularity and presence to record levels. The incident gave Greenpeace worldwide publicity and brought it a deluge of new members. Lloyd Cutler, former White House counsel to President Jimmy Carter, negotiated an $8 million settlement from the French Government.”
As Misha says, “You attack a bunch of filthy, granola-munching hippies and you end up having to fork over $8,000,000 to make them stop harrassing you? You surrendered to friggin’ GREENPEACE??? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”
"
Snicker...
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*Homer* Its funny because its true *Homer*Captain Kruger wrote:This is absolutely priceless.
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
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Sir Arthur must be spinning in his grave Footwear designer indeed.* The Napoleonic Wars - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
And I agree with all previous posts on the Revolution - it's a classic
Of all the things I've lost, I think I miss my mind the most!!
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Thats 'His Grace must be spinning in his grave' thank you...Glare wrote:Sir Arthur must be spinning in his grave Footwear designer indeed.* The Napoleonic Wars - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.
And I agree with all previous posts on the Revolution - it's a classic
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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True, one canst not forget he was the "Iron Duke" (gotta keep the bricks of the riff raff from my window, what). But he was good old Sir Arthur before that in the Peninsular and prior to that, India - his glory days as it were.Stuart Mackey wrote:Thats 'His Grace must be spinning in his grave' thank you...
Of all the things I've lost, I think I miss my mind the most!!
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Quite right old chap, a skirmish at Assaye and home in time for high tea, what?Glare wrote:True, one canst not forget he was the "Iron Duke" (gotta keep the bricks of the riff raff from my window, what). But he was good old Sir Arthur before that in the Peninsular and prior to that, India - his glory days as it were.Stuart Mackey wrote:Thats 'His Grace must be spinning in his grave' thank you...
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Indeed! sounds a rum old time, eh what?Glare wrote:Quite, quite. Perhaps a quick chukka? And then round the governor's for the ball?Stuart Mackey wrote:Quite right old chap, a skirmish at Assaye and home in time for high tea, what?
I hear that its to be held at the Pantheon in Madras.
Fancy a spot of curry? I rather think curry will take of back in blighty, old man....
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet
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No shit?? You really think the reserved English would enjoy a good Madras, perhaps even the Vindaloo?? With our refined palates and love of bland food? Us Ros Bouffs??Stuart Mackey wrote:Indeed! sounds a rum old time, eh what?
I hear that its to be held at the Pantheon in Madras.
Fancy a spot of curry? I rather think curry will take of back in blighty, old man....
Ahem....
Why certainly old chap, a days shooting followed by a good curry. Bracing what.
Of all the things I've lost, I think I miss my mind the most!!
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The French defineably won the War of Spanish Succession - They placed a Bourbon monarch on the throne of Spain. That was a victory. The War of Devolution was also a win in absolute terms (They gained territory which is still part of France today). The small wars between the Dutch War and the War of the Grand Alliance were also for the most part victories. Though some gains were rolled back, France kept Strasbourg after the peace ending the War of the Grand Alliance, which excepting the 1871-1918 interval and WWII, has remained French.
The list totally ignores the 18th century Lace Wars, several of which were French victories (nevermind lots of medieval wars). The Thirty Years War was also a French Victory, and in fact technically lasted much longer considering that France and Spain fought each other long after the conclusion of the war between the rest of the combatants in 1648.
In 1848 President Louis Napoleon of France brought his troops into Italy, defeated the Roman Republic, and restored the Pope - A decisive victory. In 1859 at the battles of Magenta and Solferino, the Austrians were decisively defeated by France as well, in the Second War of Italian Independence. Finally and most recently, France kicked Qaddafi's ass in Chad. This ignores, of course, the French record in colonial warfare, and numerous smaller conflicts. I'm probably missing a few larger ones, and the spin put on some of the bigger ones by the list (No, I KNOW I am).
The French have a decisive and famous history of military preeminence and brilliance in combat. They have one problem: In 1866 at the battle of Koniggratz, Prussia defeated Austria and won the Seven Weeks War. Napoleon III the French Emperor (Previously Louis Napoleon the French President)'s failure to intervene, and the resulting very clear Prussian victory, were fatal to French power. Austro-Hungary was kicked out of German affairs, the North German Confederation established with Prussia totally dominating it, and the South German States brought into league with the North German Confederation in secret alliances.
From that moment onward, Germany was effectively unified, and with that unification France automatically became the second-rate power on the continent. The French had known that the unification of Germany would make them insignificant since medieval times, and had constantly done everything to oppose this. Louis Napoleon's obsession with national identities led him to be blinded to the geo-political threat, however, and the result was realized five years later when the German Empire was created in the occupied Palace of Versailles.
The list totally ignores the 18th century Lace Wars, several of which were French victories (nevermind lots of medieval wars). The Thirty Years War was also a French Victory, and in fact technically lasted much longer considering that France and Spain fought each other long after the conclusion of the war between the rest of the combatants in 1648.
In 1848 President Louis Napoleon of France brought his troops into Italy, defeated the Roman Republic, and restored the Pope - A decisive victory. In 1859 at the battles of Magenta and Solferino, the Austrians were decisively defeated by France as well, in the Second War of Italian Independence. Finally and most recently, France kicked Qaddafi's ass in Chad. This ignores, of course, the French record in colonial warfare, and numerous smaller conflicts. I'm probably missing a few larger ones, and the spin put on some of the bigger ones by the list (No, I KNOW I am).
The French have a decisive and famous history of military preeminence and brilliance in combat. They have one problem: In 1866 at the battle of Koniggratz, Prussia defeated Austria and won the Seven Weeks War. Napoleon III the French Emperor (Previously Louis Napoleon the French President)'s failure to intervene, and the resulting very clear Prussian victory, were fatal to French power. Austro-Hungary was kicked out of German affairs, the North German Confederation established with Prussia totally dominating it, and the South German States brought into league with the North German Confederation in secret alliances.
From that moment onward, Germany was effectively unified, and with that unification France automatically became the second-rate power on the continent. The French had known that the unification of Germany would make them insignificant since medieval times, and had constantly done everything to oppose this. Louis Napoleon's obsession with national identities led him to be blinded to the geo-political threat, however, and the result was realized five years later when the German Empire was created in the occupied Palace of Versailles.
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In 1966 the Soviets find something on the dark side of the Moon. In 2104 they come back. -- Red Banner / White Star, a nBSG continuation story. Updated to Chapter 4.0 -- 14 January 2013.
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Yes yes yes, But the unification of Germany is nothing compared to the effect of the Vindaloo on the palate of the English/British Kingdom and the wars and colonisation {esp New Sikhland in London} that brought it to those cold isles.The Duchess of Zeon wrote:The French defineably won the War of Spanish Succession - snip.
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
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