France: World War II - First Reactions

Record ID: 581

  • Title: France: World War II - First Reactions
  • Date: 1st January 1940
  • Summary: The outbreak of war found France, under Edouard Daladier, better prepared than Britain militarily but less united politically. General mobilisation of her vast conscript army was ordered immediately. But French military thinking was primarily defensive. It had no way of meeting the rapid Germany thrust that was to take them past the strongly fortified Maginot Line. The exception was an outspoken colonel, unpopular with his superiors. The ideas of Charles de Gaulle were to be vindicated. He himself became the rallying point for his countrymen and the dominant figure in France for decades to come. NOTE: Date is approximate. This clip may contain footage from multiple events; exact date or dates may be unknown.
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  • Location: FRANCE
  • Reuters ID: LDL000YNHG3YV
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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  • Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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