* Gautam Mukunda [Thu, 26/08/2004 at 11:53 -0700]
> --- Deborah Harrell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Just wanted to note that, last night, in videotape I
> > saw of Parisians celebrating the anniversary of the
> > emancipation of Paris from Nazi rule, some were
> > waving
> > (large) American flags. I think it's as unfair to
> > assume all the French are as supportive of their
> > current administration as it would be to assume that
> > all Americans support our current one... ;)
>
> Well, just remember that in most French textbooks
> today (according to the Washington Post Book World a
> little while ago) the American role in the liberation
> of France is barely mentioned, so don't count on those
> flags for much longer.
Well it's not statistically valid (only one datapoint), but my daughter
just received her schoolbooks for the coming year. The history book is
quite recent 2003 ISBN 2218741954. In the Chapter on the liberation of
France (my translation):
***************
A restored France
{introductory paragraph}
The participation of the French forces in the Liberation and the last
combat against Germany mitigates the humiliation of the defeat of 1940 and
the shame of Collaboration. It makes it possible France to appear among
the winners
...
{The paragraph on the Liberation itself}
The Liberation
The Liberation is greatly the deed of the Allied.
...
{some selfsatisfyng sentences about the Insurection of Paris and the
Marechal Leclerc} These satisfactions shouldn't delude people. In Mai 1945
the French army (which arms were greatly provided by the Allied) counted
only 1.3 million men compared to 12 millions for US and 20 million for the
soviets.
************
I've scanned the page and will send it to everybody interested. For me it
doesn't look historically unfair. Moreover I was in Cherbourg for the DDay
commemoration and Ihaven't had the feeling that even small children doubted
it was the deed of the Americans.
--
Jean-Marc
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