France's experience of World War I offers one explanation for decisions made in 1939-40 beyond immediate politics or accusations of cowardice. Much of World War I had been fought on French soil, and the country had absorbed extraordinary casualties. Many leaders had witnessed that destruction and were determined not to repeat it. In this interpretation, their aversion to another long war became a form of collective trauma that encouraged the mistaken hope that rapid accommodation would restore normal life. Trauma is presented as one influence on decision-making, not a complete explanation for the French defeat.
Notable Point · 35:28-36:39
World War I trauma as one explanation for France in 1940
A live aside interprets some French decisions in 1939-40 through the experience of leaders shaped by the slaughter of World War I.