"We surrender" Said the French

[Sovvolf]

Now not long ago I was on Uncyclopedia looking at random stuff for shit's and giggles, upon looking at funny subjects to joke about, mainly my home town (apparently were all inbreeds ) I decided to type in France I though it was piss funny but I saw the old We Surrender gag and it got me thinking, well why is this trait often jokingly attributed to the French?. Does this have some thing to do with the background of France or due to war, obviously this stereotype as to have came from some were... but were?, see I haven't done much study on France, I know they were really good fighters at one point back in the 100 year war, so I don't know were it's come from.

I was going to put up a poll asking whether the French are or aren't cowards but I honestly though it may cause flame baiting so I've decided against it. My question here is in no way meant to cause any sort of offence or to start flame baiting, just to figure out why from the members of this forums, why France is plagued by this stereotype.

 

[G1eet]

I do like that one joke about them...

I found an old French rifle on eBay. Never been fired, only dropped once.

 

[El Poncho]

But guess who still won the 100 year war? Thats right the British

I'm not sure why I think it's to do with WW1/WW2.

 

[Skeleon]

I think it was because they surrendered to the Nazis in WW2.
Though people seem to forget about La Resistance and whatnot.

Funnily enough, a nation that once conquered most of Europe itself (under Napoleon) is now stereotyped as a nation of cowards.
Weird, but what can you do... *shrugs*

 

[Aardvark]

I reckon it's only there because the yanks had to liberate their arses in WW2, then were repaid in snootiness.

I hear the phrase "cheese-eating surrender monkey" was first coined by Willy in the Simpsons.

 

[chronobreak]

This is something you could have googled, you know. France surrendered in World War 2, so that is why there is a sterotype. It's quite simple, really.

 

[Berethond]

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

What did they do in World War 1?
(Surrender)

What did they do in World War 2?
(Surrender)

<url=http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html>See here, for a comprehensive list.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I failed History, but I think they chickened out during the war.
I told my boyfriend and that I could tell who French people are by looking at them, because they have that look and he said, "what.... scared?"
I lol'd

 

[TheSunshineHobo]

The French are considered cowards because they are cowards; throughout history they've proven that they talk big and run fast. They treat their allies like shit (QUEBEC I'M LOOKING AT YOU!!!) and when they're in trouble demand that their allies help them. History has proven that the French suck.

 

[Faps]

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

What did they do in World War 1?
(Surrender)

What did they do in World War 2?
(Surrender)

<url=http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html>See here, for a comprehensive list.

They didn't surrender in World War 1

 

[Computer-Noob]

The French are considered cowards because they are cowards; throughout history they've proven that they talk big and run fast. They treat their allies like shit (QUEBEC I'M LOOKING AT YOU!!!) and when they're in trouble demand that their allies help them. History has proven that the French suck.

Quebec is hardly a proper representation of french speaking people in this world. Even people from France hate Quebec.

The black spot of Canada still remains today.


EDIT: And Im pretty sure that no surrender took place in WW1 by the french.

 

[TheSunshineHobo]

The French are considered cowards because they are cowards; throughout history they've proven that they talk big and run fast. They treat their allies like shit (QUEBEC I'M LOOKING AT YOU!!!) and when they're in trouble demand that their allies help them. History has proven that the French suck.

Quebec is hardly a proper representation of french speaking people in this world. Even people from France hate Quebec.

The black spot of Canada still remains today.


EDIT: And Im pretty sure that no surrender took place in WW1 by the french.

Fair point. And France didn't surrender during WWI, but they still lost.

 

[Mewick_Alex]

I can understand their position in WW2. I mean, their capital was conquered.... There's not much a country can do after that except form a resistance (which they did, and a pretty good one at that).

It's Interesting Fact time! Did you know that the British intentionally fired upon the French at one point during World War 2? After Paris was conquered we gave their navy the option of either surrendering all ships to the British navy, being escorted to the USA to keep the ships out of German hands, or being blown to peices. Unfortunately the translator messed up horribly and we ended up blowing the shit out of a large chunk of their navy.

 

[Skeleon]

And France didn't surrender during WWI, but they still lost.

How is that cowardly?
Nobody calls the 300 Spartans cowards, they lost, too.

 

[Pimppeter2]

But guess who still won the 100 year war? Thats right the British

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

Are we forgetting that they came back and forced the British out of France. Ending The Hundred Years' War. I'm pretty sure that would make them the winners.

 

[Berethond]

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

What did they do in World War 1?
(Surrender)

What did they do in World War 2?
(Surrender)

<url=http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html>See here, for a comprehensive list.

They didn't surrender in World War 1

My bad, I forgot the Germans violently slaughtered them and occupied the whole country, and convinced the French to put up a puppet government.

No surrendering at all, no sir!

But guess who still won the 100 year war? Thats right the British

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

Are we forgetting that they came back and forced the British out of France. Ending The Hundred Years' War. I'm pretty sure that would make them the winners.

Yeah, but they were led by a non-Frenchwoman, so it doesn't count.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Fair point. And France didn't surrender during WWI, but they still lost.

Since when? I'm pretty sure the Allied forces won. (that would include the French) The Germans never even reached Paris

 

[El Poncho]

But guess who still won the 100 year war? Thats right the British

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

Are we forgetting that they came back and forced the British out of France. Ending The Hundred Years' War. I'm pretty sure that would make them the winners.

Nah we ended it, we thought pfft hundred years, we are not amused so we gave them it back

 

[Mr Grey]

What did they do in the 100 Year's War?
(Narrowly beat out the British... then surrender)

What did they do in World War 1?
(Surrender)

What did they do in World War 2?
(Surrender)

<url=http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html>See here, for a comprehensive list.

Actually the French didn't surrender in WW1. They fought hard to keep the Germans from taking Paris and lost 11% of their population doing it (total population that is, including women and children).

Thats why in WW2 Hitler knew he had to capture Paris as fast as possible, or the French army would fight for years against the Germans and Hitler would never secure mainland Europe.