The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940 (Making of the Modern World) 1St Edition Edition

by Julian Jackson (Author)

31 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0192803009

ISBN-10: 019280300X

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The Fall of France in 1940 is one of the pivotal moments of the twentieth century. If the German invasion of France had failed, it is arguable that the war might have ended right there. But the French suffered instead a dramatic and humiliating defeat, a loss that ultimately drew the whole world into war.
This exciting new book by Julian Jackson, a leading historian of twentieth-century France, charts the breathtakingly rapid events that led to the defeat and surrender of one of the greatest bastions of the Western Allies. Using eyewitness accounts, memoirs, and diaries to bring the story to life, Jackson not only recreates the intense atmosphere of the six weeks in May and June leading up to the establishment of the Vichy regime, but he also unravels the historical evidence to produce a fresh answer to the perennial question--was the fall of France inevitable. Jackson's vivid narrative explores the errors of France's military leaders, her inability to create stronger alliances, the political infighting, the lack of morale, even the decadence of the inter-war years. He debunks the "vast superiority" of the German army, revealing that the more experienced French troops did well in battle against the Germans. Perhaps more than anything else, the cause of the defeat was the failure of the French to pinpoint where the main thrust of the German army would come, a failure that led them to put their best soldiers up against a feint, while their worst troops faced the heart of the German war machine.
An engaging and authoritative narrative, The Fall of France illuminates six weeks that changed the course of twentieth-century history.

The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940 (Making of the Modern World)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his thorough monograph, University of Swansea historian Jackson (The Dark Years) begins with pre-war developments-French military innovations and battle strategy; Germany's plan to invade Belgium and France-before recounting the German breakthrough and defeat of British and French forces in May 1940. The second chapter opens with General Weygand taking command of the French army later that month, then provides background on France's position in Europe before the war, particularly its relations with Great Britain: the failure of attempted British-French-Soviet alliance in early 1939, and the so-called Phony War on the western front September 1939-April 1940. He tracks French attempts to halt the German onslaught and the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, leading to the June 1940 surrender, then cuts back to analyze French internal politics during the 1930s and its effect on French foreign policy. Another chapter gets devoted to the French people circa 1940, including pacifist society following World War I; soldiers' reactions to the German invasion and recollections of the mass exodus of WWI refugees from the advancing Germans are also covered. The final chapters provide a historiography of the campaign itself and the effects of the defeat on France, focusing on the collaborationist Vichy government that followed the defeat, the rise of De Gaulle's movement, and a treatment of how the defeat is viewed today. Designed for the academic rather than the casual reader, this presentation is careful and measured, and seems likely to find its way onto college history syllabi.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Superb, highly accessible revisionist study of Germany's swift defeat of France in 1940 and its wide-ranging implications, then and now.... Should spark discussion among WWII historians and great interest among military history buffs."--Kirkus Reviews

"France's sudden and shocking defeat in May of 1940 was one of the great calamities in the history of Western democracy.... Jackson assesses the social and political, and also the diplomatic, intelligence, and military, context of the catastrophe.... An admirably accessible analytical history of a complex and fraught event."--Atlantic Monthly

"Jackson's book tells in gripping detail the military, human and political story of a few crucial weeks whose ramifications for European relations for decades afterwards were enormous.... More than a military history, this sharply written account is also an elegy for a fading culture in which we all have a stake."--Financial Times

"A brilliant and authoritative book, compellingly written and persuasive in its explanation of one of the most puzzling events in 20th-century history. Impossible to put down.' Richard Evans, Cambridge University'A fine, powerful and very readable book. Jackson brings a freshness and sharpness to the discussion, with the reader being drawn straight into the action and atmosphere."--Robert Gildea, Oxford University

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Product details

Series: Making of the Modern World
Hardcover: 274 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1St Edition edition (May 29, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 019280300X
ISBN-13: 978-0192803009
Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.1 x 6.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 31 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,456,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3278 in Books > History > Europe > France
- #3960 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military
- #4892 in Books > History > Europe > Germany

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Top customer reviews

Typeface is too small, but the content is good.

ByUnderhilllon August 18, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The book is interesting, but the typeface is on the small side and makes my eyes tired. So I'm reading only half a chapter at a time.

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Five Stars

ByDavid Tookeon July 3, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This fellow can WRITE, and is very sensible.

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Hitler's Luck

ByR. J. Marsellaon December 28, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Professor Jackson's study of the various factors that contributed to the seemingly easy German victory leaves the reader with the distinct impression that none of this was inevitable and that France fell victim to a series of military, political and international missteps that left it's army and ultimately the entire country completely vulnerable.

Focusing on the military aspects, Jackson makes it clear that leading up to the war the French army was evenly matched and in some respects had technological advantages. It's demise was related to strategic errors and disagreements among leadership that hindered the army's ability to coordinate.

The country was haunted by recent memories of the First World War, which was largely fought on French soil and the strategy of deploying the armies in Belgium at the outbreak of hostilities to avoid a repeat of this played right into the German plan.

Domestic politics were equally culpable with the left and the right taking very different views of how France should react to the crisis.

This book is a well researched, scholarly account of all these historically significant threads. It weaves the factors together brilliantly, revealing the characters and personalities of the major players while relating the major events leading up to the collapse in clear fashion.

Certainly enhanced my understanding of these events.

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Four Stars

ByIsagorason September 6, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Reliable and comprehensible. Its writing styleneeds some improvement along the lines of Alistair Horne's To Lose a Battle

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Simply the Best History of The Fall of France

ByJames Brandton January 10, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I am a "Francophile" and have read quite a lot of military, political, social and general history about European history and world history. I have also done advanced post graduate work in history. I say all of this to give you some context when I say this is simply the most readable, concise and well researched book about this seminal event I've ever read. The author makes many important and enlightening points and his contention that this was a turning point in World War II which made it into a truly global conflict is thought provoking. While he doesn't spare the French their mistakes he also points out how much of a "close run thing" this outcome was and the almost insurmountable challenges they faced and how well they actually fought. He also makes a strong case that they were essentially fighting alone because the British Army was, at this point, so small and because of the European political situation. I highly recommend this book.

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GOod history on 1940 France... very moving

ByG Kossowon June 22, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Sorry to say "I love it" when the subject is so very sad. Al lbooks from fFance in this era add to the history and increase our knowledge. THe book well written or not is useful for armchair historians like myself. Thank you

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Delightful reading

ByGustav Adolfon June 9, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Impressive account of the time and of the political situation in France at these tragical and critical times. Great analysis and comprehensive narrative of the events. A book surely to be read, if one wants to understand the time and the mantality of the French.

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brilliant but sometimes annoyingly fence sitting in an academic way.

ByDog walkeron March 29, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Brilliant discussion at the end of the book about the ongoing implications of defeat for France in 1940. This really throws into relief French post-war history, including its excessive attachment to its colonies and prickliness towards the "AngloSaxons" and its obsession with "greatness" courtesy in large part of Gen De Gaulle.

4stars only because of the very academic "on the one hand, on the other hand" treatment of why France was such an easybeat in 1940. I don't care how much of the German army was horse drawn: the fact is it beat all-comers until overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers and logistics. It pains me to say it but if France was inhabited by British people in 1940 (weird thought I know), they would have fared no better. Anthony Beevor' comparison of the relatively slight incidence of trauma amongst German soldiers compared with allied troops speaks volumes.

Which leads me to the conclusion that France's misdemeanour was not to lose in 1940 but to be so awful in the following years to 1944/5 - something the author draws attention to thruoghout, and which makes leaves me looking forward to reading his book on the occupation years.

Which leads me to the conclusion that gig