France and the Nazi threat : the collapse of French diplomacy 1932-1939 / Jean-Baptiste Duroselle ; introduction by Anthony Adamthwaite ; [translated by Catherine E. Dop and Robert L. Miller].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Duroselle, Jean-Baptiste, 1917-1994.

Contributor:

Miller, Catherine Dop, 1948-

Miller, Robert L. (Robert Lawrence), 1945-2016.

Standardized Title:

Décadence, 1932-1939. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

France--Foreign relations--1914-1940.

France.

International relations.

France--Politics and government--1914-1940.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xlii, 508 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 23 cm

Other Title:

France & the Nazi threat

Place of Publication:

New York : Enigma Books, 2004.

Summary:

A Classic In-Depth Account -- Never Before Translated Into English -- by France's greatest historian of foreign policy. The most thorough analysis of the French diplomatic breakdown in the face of Hitler's aggression. Of all nations, France experienced the most spectacular fall from the pinnacle of victory in the First World War to the tragedy of Munich and defeat in 1940. The descent of a world power is chronicled in fascinating detail by the great scholar Jean-Baptiste Duroselle in his greatest work.

Contents:

I. The Return of Edouard Herriot (June-December 1932) 1

1. France and the End of Reparations 4

2. Herriot, Disarmament and "Equal Rights" 8

3. Herriot's Positive Contribution: the Franco-Soviet Agreement 14

4. The Debts, the United States, and the Fall of Herriot 20

II. The Year of Paul-Boncour (December 18, 1932-January 30, 1934) 24

1. How Did the French React to Hitler's Coming to Power? 26

2. A Total Failure: Disarmament and the Franco-German Rapprochement 32

3. The Four Power Pact and the Outline of a Franco-Italian Rapprochement 38

4. The Pursuit of Rapprochement with the USSR 43

5. The Move Toward Economic Nationalism 46

III. The Barthou Era (1934) 53

1. Louis Barthou and His Plans 54

2. The Note of April 17, 1934 58

3. The Visit of the Smaller Allies 64

4. Toward the Grand Alliance 69

5. French Public Opinion 76

IV. The Laval Era 85

1. A Small Step Towards Germany 87

2. A Small Step Towards Italy 92

3. A Small Step Towards the USSR 100

4. A Small Step Towards England 104

V. The Rhineland Tragedy (January-June 1936) 112

1. Internal and Foreign Policy up to March 7, 1936 113

2. The Forecasts About the Dimilitarized Zone 116

3. Was There a Countermove Planned? 122

4. The Decision to Not React and Getting Bogged Down 127

VI. The Atmosphere 137

1. The Status of French Patriotism 137

2. The French Traveled Very Little Overseas 141

3. Foreign Tourists in France 144

4. Immigration: A Diluted Form of Foreign Influence 145

5. Foreign Countries as Seen in Literature 150

6. The Influence of Foreign Propaganda on Public Opinion 157

VII. France's Worldwide Economic Interests 163

1. The "Gold-Bloc" 164

2. Overview of French Foreign Trade 171

3. Lingering Economic Imperialism 174

4. The Empire 182

VIII. Elusive Security 189

1. The Doctrine 191

2. The Conditions of France's Armed Forces in 1936 196

3. The High Command 201

4. The Heretics 208

IX. The Diplomatic Machine 214

1. The Quai d'Orsay 214

2. The Ambassadors 220

3. The Specialized Attaches 225

X. The Popular Front (1936-1937) 233

1. A Timid Beginning 236

2. The Beginning of Non-Intervention in Spain 242

3. The Great Devaluation and the Lesser Ones 246

4. A Western Grand Design? 252

5. 1937: A Colorless Year 255

XI. The Year of Munich 264

1. The March 1938 Crisis 264

2. The Final Reaction of the Popular Front 267

3. The False Crisis of May 1938 271

4. Preliminaries to the Great Crisis 277

5. France Abandons Czechoslovakia 282

6. The Great Crisis and Munich (September 23-30) 287

7. French Public Opinion and Munich 291

8. The Collapse of France's Prestige Abroad 299

XII. After Munich: Expectations and Uncertainties 302

1. Munich and the Economy 307

2. The Limits of the Franco-German Rapprochement 315

3. The Impossible Franco-Italian Rapprochement 322

4. The Ukraine or Holland? 328

5. Romania or Czechoslovakia? 332

XIII. The Failure of the Grand Alliance (March-August 1939) 336

1. Spain: Moral Failure and Diplmatic Success 337

2. Italy Remains Out of Reach 343

3. Toward the "Grand Alliance"

The Preliminary Negotiations 346

4. The Political Negotiations 351

5. The Failure of the Military Negotiations 357

6. On the Periphery

The Near East 363

XIV. Final Preparations 368

1. Economic Readiness 368

2. The Air Force from Munich to the War 374

3. Battle Plans 384

4. Toward a Unified Command? 393

XV. Toward the Inescapable Conclusion (August 22-September 3, 1939) 395

1. France Remains Passive (August 23-31, 1939) 396

2. The Last Three Days (September 1-3, 1939) 405.

Notes:

"An Enigma original paperback"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Originally published in French under the title: La Décadence, 1932-1939, 3ème édition corrigée--T.p. verso.

ISBN:

1929631154

OCLC:

55589798