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The complete military history of France

Mycernius

The Hairy Wookie
4 Feb 2005
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Something sent to me by a mate. Enjoy (unless you're French (you have been warned))

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." Sainted.

- 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 Revolution
- 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.


If you are French I did warn you
 
I love to play the devil's advocate; let me give it a shot on this one.
Contrary to common belief, the French spirit is Celtic and not Germanic. They do not take pride in the Germanic overlords since the 400's, nor in the glory of Charlemagne 742-814 of the Frankish Empire. Hence from the Celtic point of view, or that of Asterix', all those defeats were in fact victories for the oppressed Celts. Self-defeatism amid long periods of peace and prosperity has added to the philosophical spectrum. What other people could have created positive values out of defeat ? Monarchy defeated gave rise to egalitarian values; Napoleon's defeat gave enlightenment. Dreyfus case sowed the seeds of the Isreali State. Diversity and internal fissure may appear to be a sign of weakness, but was in fact a sign of strength and creativity. Long live the Celts ! 🙏
Campaign for EU Constitution
-lost
-To build a strong EU by investing in Eastern Europe was too obviously profiting the Franks in the minds of the oppressed Celts.
-"We simply can't let the Franks have that good fortune, No way !"
 
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