Ebook: The Collapse of the Third Republic

In 1940, France - which had the largest and most respected army in the world - was crushed and swiftly overrun by the newly revived, under-equipped, and still poorly trained German army in one of the most stunning debacles of modern times. William L Shirer witnessed the disaster from both sides, and later went on to do exhaustive research into the archives and interview witnesses in several countries to put together the incredible story. What he discovered was amazing: outdated strategy, lack of planning, disloyalty and defeatism in the military leadership, and petty political intrigue - including two politician's mistresses whose feuding crippled the leadership's will. This makes stark, fascinating reading, and is a stern warning about the perils of social polarization in these troubled times.