I read on here as i was reading someones answer that America saved France.?

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Diane A

America saved France in WWI, WWII, and later with the Marshall Plan and during the Cold War

When Germany threatened France during WWI, America came to Franceâ€™s rescue.

In WW2, when France was conquered by Nazi Germany, tens of thousands of American soldiers gave their lives for France.

When the French Franc was in danger of collapse in 1956, who was there again to help?
America, of course.

When the Soviet Union threatened Europe during the Cold War, who protected France? America.

When the railways of France were breaking down through age, it was America who rebuilt them.

Joker â™ .â™¥.â™¦.â™£

Damn !!!!
It's amazing how you made some categorical sentences.

It's true that during WW1 USA joined France, United Kingdom and Russia, but we could just say they helped them for the victory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

It's true that during WW2 USA joined the allies (UK, France, Poland, etc) but after been attacked by Japan in Pearl Harbor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
It's true that USA leaded a major role in the France Liberation thanks to the operation overlord (d-day), but it has to be said that they were helped by Canadians, Britannics and French soldiers.

But if you're saying that French are too proud to admit it , let me refresh your minds and tell you about the American Revolutionary War when France help Americans :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_American_Revolutionary_War

Anyway when a country investigate in a war, it's rarely to help his friends but more to protect their interests.
And if it may be said that France has a debt of honor, it's not a reason to do garbages to solve it ...

I don't know why you say France was humiliated, it's too easy to say that France is anti-american just because they don't have the same way to want to solve problems.
During several centuries, France was the place where war took place, that's why they know how a war is monstrous and never solve all the problems.
.
Don't say to not agree on only some points with USA is to be anti-american. What is Foreign Politic if it's not protect your interests. That's the brutal truth about the world's rules ...

I know Wikipedia is not the best way to inform yourself, but that's an easy beginning. It exists also some books that you can find in places that we called libraries.
;;;;;;

Maxfres de Taghmaoui ^^

Most of what has been said concerning the help US provided us with during XXe century is correct and true (except the anecdot of rebuilding our railway system, except if we are talking about Marshall Plan, but it would be the same as the above mentioned help) (please note that Marshall Plan is 1945-1950, not 1956 as specified in one answer !)

But you cannot say that France is anti-US now, we are anti-Bush. and we are not helping US in Iraqian War because that war is overwhelmingly (including UN) recognized as unfair and illegal.
Now you American people are realizing that your foolish President drove you to a no-way street, that he lied you and did a lot of mistakes in his international politics.
We, French people, just realized it in 2003, and this is why we did not accompany US Soldiers in that illegal war.

But we did not forget the incredible help you provided us with, we did not forget how many lives you sacrifized for our freedom, we did not forget who is our strongest no-European friend, even if we do not 100% agree with them...

We LOVE USA ! We do not like at all President Bush !

Baiocchi

The USA helped us a lot during WWII but France helped the USA before with General Lafayette.
He helped to unify the country. So without the French maybe the USA wouldn't exist...

As for the feelings towards the American everything above is clearly said.

jmp78

The US did help France during WW1 and WW2 however France saved America during the US Independence War so they did help each other mutually :)

France isn't anti American, the French just aren't big fans of George W Bush.

Little Ace

I see a lot of knee-jerk (and some just plain jerk) reactions to the question.

At least Joker has set the record a little more straight. Let's have facts, not opinions!

I am neither French nor American but have lived in both countries. The differences of philosophy/culture are huge so we have to look at the facts to determine what happened. The relevant facts are:

- the pattern of France helping US in e.g. the revolutionary war
- the pattern of America helping France in WWI & II and with the Marshall plan
- look at the numbers of Americans actually on the ground in the coalition forces (military term, not the politicised 'coalitions' of today) in the two World Wars. They show that the Americans were a substantial part of the allied efforts - but were not the dominant party in the coalition. A large and highly valued ally, yes; the saviour? Definitely not!
- as to the railways, British & American bombing + maquis (French resistance) sabotage (to prevent further German advances) did significant damage in WWII and the Marshall Plan money helped to repair that. But look at the French railways and railway technology of today - it is exported to the US and is the leading railway technology in the world. Hardly supports the idea that America saved the French railways. See Amtrak for details...

So vive la France and long live America Both are fine nations with wonderful people - and some of the time with terrible governments. But I won't open that barrel of wine here...

Sodem O

Just to add a little bit to some of the comments above.
US certainly did help France a lot towards the end of WW2 but it wasn't entirely that simple. It declined to support an uprising against the Germans in the Vercors region and thousands of resistance fighters were massacred (a bit like it didn't support an uprising against Sadaam by the Kurds just after the first Iraq war). The reason is believed to be that they thought the reistance was communist backed. The US also tried to destabilise De Gaule until they realised that he was "on the right side".

So, the picture isn't as simple as some people make out, and it isn't all one way.

justask23

WWII

kja63

WWII -- The USA freed France from Hitler (Germany).

urban0ide

Diane and PSF, please review your history lesson and please open up!! your answers are scaring!

paddington .

we're not anti American, just anti Bush, the US army helped to get rid of German invaders during WWII with the help of Canada and Great Britain

PSF11

Okay, for history sake-- I'll try and bite my tongue here as much as I can but a lot of vets are rolling over in their graves right now to hear that one of the most pinnacle events in world history, for which they gave their lives, is not even rembered by their very grand and great grand children. This is not a "little known fact" dude. It's one of the biggest events in world history. If anyone in France doubts it, it's only young people over there who also don't know their history.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy

To say we "saved France" is a big understatement. We saved Europe, if not the world.

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