Current Events > When did the French become the object of ridicule by Americans?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I don't know this part of history. Is it actually after WW2 because France surrendered in the face of the overwhelming Nazi war machine?

Cause as far as I understand, the USA and France had a pretty good relationship before whatever happened to make them the object of ridicule in America

Its more good natured ribbing than anything else.

When they stop supporting US in Iraq occupation.
Remember shits like Freedom Fries?

Ignorance is probably the answer.
That and The French being a bit notorious for being 'difficult' to outside cultures.

But they certainly have been one of our greatest allies since the turn of The Revolutionary War.

When the French didn't want to participate in the US's war crimes spree in the Middle East.

Ricemills posted...

When they stop supporting US in Iraq occupation.
Remember shits like Freedom Fries?

wow but I feel like French people got mocked before that

Cruciferous posted...

wow but I feel like French people got mocked before that

I remember jokes on tv about the French being cowards and prone to surrender long before any of that

It was pretty much a trope

French and Indian war

World War II, and then anger at France for trying to go a third way for a bit during the Cold War, escalating with the French participating in the Moscow Olympics in spite of the boycott.

World War 2 was definitely the turning point, and also the Vietnam War as well. The French had a very impressive military record up until the Maginot Line (the failure of which has been largely, arguably purposefully overblown in American culture) and their subsequent surrender to Germany; didn't help France's rep that the British fought tooth and nail and avoided defeat until the US entered the war.

Regardless, the US dunking on France was a thing waaaaaaay before the War on Terror.

masterpug53 posted...

The French had a very impressive military record up until the Maginot Line (the failure of which has been largely, arguably purposefully overblown in American culture) and their subsequent surrender to Germany

The Maginot Line did exactly what it was intended to do, which was to force the Germans to go around it and through Belgium again. Where the French failed was in their doctrinal inflexibility and their inability to redirect forces south in time when the Germans pierced the Ardennes defenses.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

The Maginot Line did exactly what it was intended to do, which was to force the Germans to go around it and through Belgium again. Where the French failed was in their doctrinal inflexibility and their inability to redirect forces south in time when the Germans pierced the Ardennes defenses.

Of course. But surely you're well aware of the Americanized version of the Maginot Line's history: "France built a massive fortified trench expecting more WWI-style warfare, Germany simply flew over it, French = dumb losers, Germans = smart ass-kickers." It's cultural propaganda I've seen a few times over my life, something I myself bought into hook, line and sinker until I was corrected a few years ago.

it's leftover from being British

masterpug53 posted...

Of course. But surely you're well aware of the Americanized version of the Maginot Line's history: "France built a massive fortified trench expecting more WWI-style warfare, Germany simply flew over it, French = dumb losers, Germans = smart ass-kickers." It's cultural propaganda I've seen a few times over my life, something I myself bought into hook, line and sinker until I was corrected a few years ago.

I always learned that it was the blitzkrieg that broke the line

I've actually never heard of the "lol they just flew over it" story

Freedom fries

Cruciferous posted...

I always learned that it was the blitzkrieg that broke the line

I've actually never heard of the "lol they just flew over it" story

The most prominent example I can think of from back in they day was one of the history reel cutscenes from Medal of Honor: Underground on the PSX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKdK-xuFOng&list=PLLSIvudPo-Jy0l7mqedlHsUR9D84LWE5w&index=11

I know nowadays it's quite justifiable to go 'lololol Medal of Honor,' but this was when the series was new and highly prestigious in the gaming world (Steven Spielberg was heavily involved in the production).

They dared not commit war crimes with America in one particular instance.

The WW2 coward bit is much of a misnomer as well because the French people fought their asses off the rest of the war after the government surrended.