Sarkozy @ Verdun: Completely ignores SA

S

StrongTurd

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Anyone watching the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI that is on the news channels right now?

First thing that struck me about the ceremonies was the apparent lack of German VIPs. I think Germany sent their ambassador or something but where's Angela? Where's the German flags? Maybe I just missed it but to me it seemed very one-sided.

Then Sarkozy makes his speech and individually mentions every single nation that fought on the Allied side including the Indians, Canadians, Yanks, Australians, Italians, Kiwis, Russians etc. etc. but fails to mention the South Africans. IIRC there were something like 150 000 South Africans that fought on the Allied side during WWI including 30 000 that fought on the Western Front where many South African regiments were completely decimated at Delville Wood during the battle of the Somme while successfully fending off the Germans. 2500 South Africans died during this battle alone.

This just shows you how biased people are even 90 years later. Thanks for nothing, Sarkozy, you idiot!
 
This is a typical European attitude. You'd have heard SA mentioned if an American was doing the talk. I've found them to be more fair in accessing contributions made by lesser known countries than the 'great' European Powers - Britain, Russia, Germany and France. The French IMO are worst
at this and consider their own achievements great and everyone elses'
subordinate to theirs.
 
PeterCH said:
This is a typical European attitude. You'd have heard SA mentioned if an American was doing the talk. I've found them to be more fair in accessing contributions made by lesser known countries than the 'great' European Powers - Britain, Russia, Germany and France. The French IMO are worst
at this and consider their own achievements great and everyone elses'
subordinate to theirs.
Click to expand...

Seems like it. It wouldn't have been a problem if he mentioned the largest allies and the added "and all the smaller nations" or something but he actually singled out each and every one except SA.

I just referenced an old book that I've got about Delville Wood and see that my figures quoted originally were very low:

In the battle for Delville Wood in 1916 France, 121 South African officers and 3032 other ranks walked into the woods. Six days later only two officers and 140 other ranks walked out.
Click to expand...

That's a 95% casualty rate.
 
We're not part of the EU so we're not part of the World :rolleyes:

I hate Pommies, but love their woman :o
 
StrongTurd said:
Then Sarkozy makes his speech and individually mentions every single nation that fought on the Allied side including the Indians, Canadians, Yanks, Australians, Italians, Kiwis, Russians etc. etc. but fails to mention the South Africans.
Click to expand...

Did he mention the French?

They're still annoyed that the Americans keep on having to bail them out - WWI, WWII, and Viet Nam.
 
Albereth said:
Did he mention the French?

They're still annoyed that the Americans keep on having to bail them out - WWI, WWII, and Viet Nam.
Click to expand...

The buggers probably rekon America still owes them for their help with the War of Independence against the brits :P
 
I'd like to think that the snub was not intentional but more a matter of ignorance.
It's not extremely common knowledge that South Africans fought in the Battle of Delville Wood (If you are not South African) and with each
passing year, the memories fade more.
 
Hosehead said:
I'd like to think that the snub was not intentional but more a matter of ignorance.
It's not extremely common knowledge that South Africans fought in the Battle of Delville Wood (If you are not South African) and with each
passing year, the memories fade more.
Click to expand...

I really hope so. I cannot recall every country that he mentioned but the list did include places like Portugal, New Zealand and Montenegro, all of which had significantly smaller numbers of troops committed than South Africa did.

I know one old guy who's grandfather died, together with everybody from his platoon, at Delville Wood. In fact, they were so decimated that their remains were never identified. My point is that Sarkozy should never have started naming countries by the name if he was going to omit one country especially if that country made a bigger sacrifice for France than other countries that he did mention. That is just pathetic.
 
Have you heard about the WW2 french tank???
It had one forward gear and 10 reverse. :)

For sale, one french WW2 Rifle, never been fired, dropped once.....

Cowards
 
As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." --- Jacques Chirac, President of France.
"As far as France is concerned, you're right." --- Rush Limbaugh 5


"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." --- General George S. Patton 5



"It's no surprise the French won't help us get Saddam Hussein out of Iraq. They didn't help us get Germany out of France, either. Still, it's essential for them to join us in the war against Iraq. They can teach the Iraqis how to surrender." --- Jay Leno 5


"Did you see the new bomb the government came up with? It weights 21,000 pounds. The Air Force tested this bomb in Florida and the bomb blast was so strong at Disneyworld 25 French tourists surrendered." --- Jay Leno


"French troops arrived in Afghanistan last week, and not a minute too soon. The French are acting as advisers to the Taliban, to teach them how to surrender properly." --- Jay Leno 5


"Army personnel in Kuwait unloaded a dozen faulty tanks that only go in reverse. Tanks that only go in reverse - they've been repackaged and sold to France." --- Craig Kilborn 5

"Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining."
--- John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv.


"The French are always reticent to surrender to the wishes of their friends and always more than willing to surrender to the wishes of their enemies." -- unattributed

Q : How many Frenchmen does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A : None, They give up and wait for someone else to do it for them.

Q: What does "Maginot" mean in English?
A: Welcome!

Q. What's the difference between Frenchmen and toast?
A. You can make soldiers out of toast.

Q : Why do the French never perform "the wave" at a soccer game?
A : Because, that's a gesture reserved for use only in time of war

Q :What do you call a French fighter coming to the rescue of American and British soldiers in the Iraqi desert?
A : Mirage

Q: What does "Maginot" mean in English?
A: Welcome

Q: How can you identify a French Infantryman?
A: Sunburned armpits.


American to Frenchman : "Do you speak German?"
Frenchman : "No."
American : "You're Welcome!
Click to expand...

http://www.code7r.org/Bintoons/allies2.htm


To be fair though they were plenty of incredibly brave resistance fighters in WW2 and they helped fight the Germans to a stand still in WW1, ultimately defeating them
 
South African soldiers always got the short end of the stick when it came to events like this, because of our previous governments policies we were conveniently excluded from many of the memorial services after the wars and I expect that the script was just never changed to include us. I would like to raise the point that no matter how bad France's record was during the wars, a lot of French soldiers and civilians died during the carnage of WW1, the thousands of French names on war memorials will testify to that, and like them or loathe them, today was the day to remember them all. Friend and foe.

Its also worth noting that our own border casualties wont even be listed in "freedom" park, so we may as well get used to it and do that remembering ourselves.
 
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