A Comparative Study Of British And French Anti - German System In World War

During Word War II, both the anti-Germany system of Britain and that of France are tremendous, integrated and systematic mobilization matters. However, due to different prewar diplomatic strategic situations of two nations, and the administrative, military and leadership differences during war time, Britain won while France lose the war in the preliminary stage of the war.On the eve of Word War II, even though both Britain and France pursued the diplomatic policy of appeasement, it was mainly led by Britain when dealing with The Axis while France followed blindly. Although the geographical relation of the two nations is interdependent and strategic alliance between them has been established, the international diplomatic circumstance of France was much severer than that of Britain on account of French heavily passive diplomacy as well as its own geopolitical disadvantage.However, it is the differences between their administrative systems, military buildups and leaderships that lead to different anti-Germany results. In respect of administration, though both two nations built wartime cabinets, British cabinet was united while French divisive, and defeatism was prevalent in French cabinet. Moreover, French commanding system is rather inefficient. In terms of military strategy, both two nations stuck to protracted war. However, compared with French negative defense, relying its national security solely on Maginot Line, British strategy of attrition, relying on strong navy and air force, was more flexible in anti-Germany war.Furthermore, reasons why both two nations ignored the construction of armored force are different. Britain mainly developed navy and air force based on its strategy of attrition, which had little effect on its national security as its geographical advantage of an island nation. However, based on experiences of Word War I, France mainly built the rigescent Maginot Line and scattered its armored forces into infantry to defend negatively, which left an opportunity to German onrushing panzers. In addition, though both two nations had powerful navies and air forces, Britain paid much more attention to the wartime application and construction of them than Germany. In respect of scientific research of military industry, though both two nations had well-developed research ability, the development concept of military industry and the generalization of new weapons of Britain were much better than that of France. In respect of wartime leaders, though there were many similarities in character between British Prime Minister, Churchill, and French Prime Minister, Renault, Churchill’s political experiences and governing capacity was better than Renault’s. Moreover, Renault was facing a complicated situation of cabinet filled with defeatism and personal divergences, which is in sharp contrast to Churchill’s integrated cabinet.After comparing the prewar diplomacy and the anti-Germany system during wartime of Britain with that of France, this thesis finds that France is negative and conservative in terms of prewar diplomacy, strategic guideline, military doctrine, arms program, scientific research of military industry and force application in wartime. It can be seen that it is of great importance for a nation’s defense policy to grasp the initiative in making diplomatic policies and military strategies which are consistent with its own nation’s circumstances based on its own geopolitical condition. Moreover, it has reference meaning to establish efficient conducting system and steady administration, and contain the defeatism.