The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - July-Dec 1917

bristol scout · 8 July 2009, 12:36 PM

Hi Jonstag,

In a nutshell, the French army fought the war of mass armies 1914--16.

After Verdun the British 'new' armies took on more and more of that honourable role----after the failed Nivelle offensives---and all the overblown promises not fulfilled, with the French army in mutiny and near mutiny and their morale very very shaky--the British army took on more and more the major role and the great trials, and victories of 1918 were very largely a British and Dominion 'thing'

That is not in any way claiming the French did nothing---but the simple fact is after Nivelle they were not the same Army, and that unpalatable fact had to be kept from the Germans as much as possible. And therein lies much of the misery for Frances Allies during those months of careful nurturing of French Morale.

For the French air service-----i'm not the best to ask as i do not consider they were in any way comparable with the R.F.C./R.A.F. and this lack of aggression i feel they showed colours my objectivity. If i'd been a German pilot/observer i would have wanted to be on the French part of the front!

Dave.

8 July 2009, 12:36 PM	#107 (permalink)
bristol scout Shot Down Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,612	French army Hi Jonstag, In a nutshell, the French army fought the war of mass armies 1914--16. After Verdun the British 'new' armies took on more and more of that honourable role----after the failed Nivelle offensives---and all the overblown promises not fulfilled, with the French army in mutiny and near mutiny and their morale very very shaky--the British army took on more and more the major role and the great trials, and victories of 1918 were very largely a British and Dominion 'thing' That is not in any way claiming the French did nothing---but the simple fact is after Nivelle they were not the same Army, and that unpalatable fact had to be kept from the Germans as much as possible. And therein lies much of the misery for Frances Allies during those months of careful nurturing of French Morale. For the French air service-----i'm not the best to ask as i do not consider they were in any way comparable with the R.F.C./R.A.F. and this lack of aggression i feel they showed colours my objectivity. If i'd been a German pilot/observer i would have wanted to be on the French part of the front! Dave. Last edited by bristol scout; 8 July 2009 at 12:42 PM.