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When Britain and France Almost Merged into One Country (2017)

theatlantic.com

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Re: When Britain and France Almost Merged into One Country (2017)

#4
> Marshal Pétain, 84 years old and the great hero of World War I, believed it was his duty to save France from total destruction and accept an armistice with Germany. Britain was doomed, he said, and union would be “fusion with a corpse.” Another minister concluded: “Better be a Nazi province. At least we know what that means.” Reynaud later wrote in his memoirs, “Those who rose in indignation at the idea of union with our ally were the same individuals who were getting ready to bow and scrape to Hitler.”

Wow. I knew that England and France have historically disliked each other, but preferring to be a Nazi province?

Re: When Britain and France Almost Merged into One Country (2017)

#6
> the origins of European integration—and the reasons why Britain ultimately pulled away

Anyone who was around for the UK's going into the then-called CEE (sporting all of 6 members) in the 70s will find little surprise at the current drama ...

(There were some Frenchmen worried it was an US submarine ...)

Re: When Britain and France Almost Merged into One Country (2017)

#7

> Marshal Pétain, 84 years old and the great hero of World War I, believed it was his duty to save France from total destruction and accept an armistice with Germany. Britain was doomed, he said, and union would be “fusion with a corpse.” Another minister concluded: “Better be a Nazi province. At least we know what that means.” Reynaud later wrote in his memoirs, “Those who rose in indignation at the idea of union wi…

[dead]

Re: When Britain and France Almost Merged into One Country (2017)

#9

> Marshal Pétain, 84 years old and the great hero of World War I, believed it was his duty to save France from total destruction and accept an armistice with Germany. Britain was doomed, he said, and union would be “fusion with a corpse.” Another minister concluded: “Better be a Nazi province. At least we know what that means.” Reynaud later wrote in his memoirs, “Those who rose in indignation at the idea of union wi…

History has not been kind to Pétain, and deservedly so.
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