num_pages: 1084
description: s/t: An Inquiry into the Fall of France in 1940On 6/17/40 Shirer stood in the streets of Paris watching the flow of gray German uniforms along its boulevards. In just 6 lovely weeks in the spring and summer of 1940 a single battle defeated one of the world's oldest, greatest &amp; most civilized powers—the 2nd mightiest empire on earth &amp; the possessor of one of the finest military machines. How did it happen? After nearly a decade of research in the archives left from WWII &amp; after hundreds of conversations with the 3rd Republic’s leaders, generals, diplomats &amp; ordinary citizens, he presents the definitive answer in his recreation of why &amp; how France fell before Hitler. His book is also a devastating examination of the confusion, corruption &amp; cynicism that drained the strength &amp; toughness of a democracy which Jefferson called "every man's 2nd country." This book complements &amp; completes the dramatic story of The Rise &amp; Fall of the Third Reich.ForewordPrologueDebacle! summer 19401: The rise of the Third Republic, 1871-1919 A freakish birth &amp; early growing pains 1871-91The Dreyfus affair 1894-1906The consolidation of the Republic 1880-1914Classes &amp; conflict 1875-1914The permanent political crisis 1875-1914The achievements of the Third Republic 1875-1914The coming of the first world war 1905-14The Third Republic's finest hour 1914-182: Illusions &amp; realities of victory, 1919-34Victorious France: "the greatest power in Europe" 1919-31Decline 1: political &amp; financial chaos, &amp; the Poincaré recovery 1924-30Decline 2: the erosion of military power 1925-34Decline 3: the world depression shakes the Third Republic 1931-343: The last years of the Republic, 1934-39A fateful turning point February 6, 1934 Aftermath: widening of the gulf 1934-36Coup in the Rhineland: the last chance to stop Hitler &amp; avert a major war March 1936France further divided, the front populaire &amp; the Spanish Civil War 1936-37Dissension &amp; disarray: France &amp; the anschluss March 1938The road to Munich 1: April 27-September 13, 1938The road to Munich 2: September 15-28, 1938 The conference at Munich September 29-30, 1938The turn of Poland 1939 A summer's interlude in Paris May-July 1939The talks with Russia Summer 1939 The launching of World War II September 1-3, 1939Book Four: The war &amp; the defeat, 1939-40 La Dróle de Guerre September 3, 1939-April 9, 1940On the eve: the war in Norway, the threat to Belgium &amp; the crisis in Paris Spring 1940The battle of France 1: The armies close in May 10-15, 1940The battle of France 2: disaster at Sedan, the breakthrough at the Meuse May 13-16, 1940The battle of France 3: disaster in Flanders &amp; the surrender of Belgium May 16-June 4, 1940 The fall of Paris June 5-14, 1940The flight to Bordeaux June 11-14, 1940The agony of Bordeaux, the fall of Reynaud, Pétain takes over June 14-16, 1940Armistice! June 17-29, 19405: The collapse of the Third RepublicThe end at Vichy June-July 1940 EpilogueNotesAcknowledgmentsBibliographyIndex
language: English
title: The Collapse of the Third Republic
titlecomplete: The Collapse of the Third Republic
genres: France, War, Politics, European History, Nonfiction, World History, Military History, Military Fiction, History, World War II
ratings_count: 1023
publisher: Simon & Schuster (NYC)