Battle of France book

[Andy Saunders]

It may be of interest to forum members that Peter Cornwell's new book "The Battle of France: Then & Now" will be available at a special launch/book signing at the Aviation Bookshop, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Saturday 23 February from 11.00 am to 3pm. The author and Wg Cdr Peter Ayerst DFC will be present to sign copies.

This book is certainly a "must have" !

Andy Saunders

[CJE]

The Battle of France started on 5 June, when most of the RAF units had been withdrawn.
So what this author is talking about?

[Peter Cornwell]

May I suggest that you read the book.

[Andy Saunders]

Absolutely, Peter! For the enlightenment of CJE, though, perhaps the sub-title might help him understand things a little better:

"The Battle of France Then & Now: Six Nations Locked in Aerial Combat September 1939 to June 1940"

However....and as Peter says.... reading the book first is essential. Strangely there does seem to have been lots of recent critical comment, in various quarters, about publications which have (a) either not yet been published, or, (b), where the critic has not actually read the book even when it has been published.

Well...thats my tuppeny worth!

Andy

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by CJE

The Battle of France started on 5 June, when most of the RAF units had been withdrawn.
So what this author is talking about?

Any German soldiers on French soil before then were ... what, tourists?

[Franek Grabowski]

The Battle of Britain did not last up to 1945, did it? The period before the Battle of France was called Phoney War, something different I think.
Andy, nobody is criticising the book or rather its contents. It is the title which is criticised and which we could read before the book was printed. And yes, I find the title inaccurate, misleading and offensive.

[Jukka Juutinen]

Polish logic seems to be really inverse. Franek´s reaction is parallel to me finding "Franek Grabowski" inaccurate, misleading and offensive.

[Peter Cornwell]

Such interest, indeed passion, generated by the cover alone - this is most gratifying. Thank you gentlemen.

[Ruy Horta]

Gentlemen, please take a breather and discuss the issue constructively.

Any book about this period by an author of proven worth is welcome.

This discussion is pretty similar to the one about the Battle of Britain, where there is difference of opinion about the exact dates and campaign phases, but with a stronger emotional factor.

I can sympathise with the French if they lay "claim" to their Battle of France as a distinct separate phase of the war and one which in a way is underestimated and overshadowed by subsequent events.

But Peter, please let me again emphasise that personally I am looking forward to your work, regardless of the title.

[Franek Grabowski]

Ruy
I do not think that comments of Chris or me were unconstructive. Phoney War and French Campaign (or Battle of France) are two distinctive periods as was Polish Campaign or Battle of Denmark and Norway.
The same about the number of nations/countries involved.
I guess the bulk of the book will be filed by details of crashed aircraft, and such inaccuracies would be a fraction of the book, nonetheless I cannot consider them unsignificant. This is founded criticism, and frankly, I have no idea, why any such critical remarks cause such a furious reaction.
I must note here, that removing Czechoslovakia and Poland is fulfilling Hitler's dream of erasing those countries. No, I am not suggesting anything, but perhaps an ignorance that caused a certain British FO minister to claim the Russian border is on Vistula river.