The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940

"The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940" by Julian Jackson is very well written and interesting book. It represents an excellent analysis of the complex of reasons which led to the catastrophe of 1940 and of the consequences of the defeat of France.

It must be noted that this book is virtually free of typographical errors—a very seldom achievement now, even for a university publishing house.

However, few remarks about the Soviet Union in the Professor Jackson's book spoil the owerall good impression. Julian Jackson is a specialist in the history of FRANCE, and, sadly, these remarks are based on a received information instead of recearch.

Professor Jackson writes (pp. 2–3): "The fall of France was an event that resonated show more throughout the world. [. . .] There was panic in Moscow, where Stalin was only too aware that the defeat of France made it possible for Hitler to turn his attention to the east. As Khrushchev recalled in his memoirs: 'Stalin let fly with some choice Russian curses and said that now Hitler was sure to beat our brains in.' He was right."

Even if Stalin did say that, which, given the source, is highly doubtful (Nikita Sergeevich had his own agenda), it was hardly a panic. Panic is what J. Jackson has all too vividly described in his own book: thick smoke of burning documents above the Quai d'Orsay, weeping French commanders, government fleeing its capital, etc. Had the Peoples Commissariat of Foreign Affairs (NKID) burned in May–June of 1940 a single document BECAUSE of the fall of France? Yes, there was panic in Moscow, but in October 1941, and for a different reason.

P. 74: "Although this seems remarkable in retrospect, one must not underestimate the extent to which Stalin's purges had undermined western confidence in the fighting qualities of the Red Army."

The key word here is 'western.' This underestimation eventually led Germany to unconditional surrender and her Fuehrer to suicide. And it seems remarkable indeed that many of Pr. Jackson's colleagues, including himself, still hold on their old views.

We find the "alarm in Moscow" again on page 237. Stalin's "immediate response" to this "alarm," according to author, was the annexation of the Baltic states, Bessarabia and Bukovina, which, in turn, worried Hitler . . . If Stalin was so panic-striken and alarmed, it would be better to try hard NOT to worry Hitler in any way, right?

A book about the Red Army defeats in 1941, comparable in quality to "The Fall of France," has not been written yet. Let's hope.

. . . And, of course, Germany invaded the USSR on June twenty second (22nd), not on 21st, as J. Jackson states (p. 237). Here again, he shows what his area of expertise is: on June 21st of 1812 started another invasion to Russia, led by Napoleon Bonaparte. show less

Not what I wanted - more interested in the occupation and not just Paris.