28.11.2009
They do their business
It is one of the outstanding peculiarities of the French that their vices are all on the surface, and their extraordinary virtues concealed. One might almost say that their vices are the flower of their virtues.
Thus their obscenity is the expression of their passionate love of dragging all things into the light. The avarice of their peasants means the independence of their peasants. What the English call their rudeness in the streets is a phase of their social equality. The worried look of their women is connected with the responsibility of their women; and a certain unconscious brutality of hurry and gesture in the men is related to their inexhaustible and extraordinary military courage. (…) Let a fool hate France.
G. K. Chesterton, French and English
Out of these things is born their power of recuperation in their leisure; their reasoned calm while at work; and their superb confidence in their arms. Even if France of to-day stood alone against the world’s enemy, it would be almost inconceivable to imagine her defeat now; wholly so to imagine any surrender. The war will go on till the enemy is finished. The French do not know when that hour will come; they seldom speak of it; they do not amuse themselves with dreams of triumphs or terms. Their business is war, and they do their business.
R. Kipling, France at war (1915)
The French soldiers are grand. They are grand. There is no other word to express it.
Arthur Conan Doyle, A visit to three fronts (1916)
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28 novembre
28th November, 1809
Kellerman Fils defeats the Spanish in Alba de Tormes.
28 novembre 1809
Kellerman Fils bat les Espagnols à Alba de Tormes.
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27.11.2009
27 novembre
27th November, 1382
Olivier de Crisson defeats the Flemish in Rozebeke.
27 novembre 1382
Olivier de Crisson bat les Flamands à Rozebeke.
27th November, 1589
Henry IV defeats the League and Felipe II of Spain in Tours.
27 novembre 1589
Henri IV bat la Ligue et Philippe II d'Espagne à Tours.
27th November, 1806
Napoléon takes Warsaw.
27 novembre 1806
Napoléon prend Varsovie.
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25.11.2009
25 novembre
25th November, 1174
With 400 knights, 16-year-old Baudouin IV, the leprous king of Jerusalem, defeats Saladin helped by 20,000 soldiers in Montgisard (the figures are hard to figure out exactly but the Christian and Muslim chronicles alike confirm the French were outrageously outnumbered).
25 novembre 1174
Avec 400 chevaliers, le roi lépreux de Jérusalem Baudouin IV (16 ans) bat les 20000 soldats de Saladin à Montgisard (les chiffres sont difficiles à affiner, mais les chroniques chrétiennes et musulmanes confirment ensemble une incroyable disproportion des forces).
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23.11.2009
23 novembre
23rd November, 1795
Masséna defeats the Austrians in Loano.
23 novembre 1795
Masséna bat les Autrichiens à Loano.
23rd November, 1805
French victory in Castel Franco.
23 novembre 1805
Victoire française à Castel Franco.
23rd November, 1808
The French defeat the Spanish in Tuleda.
23 novembre 1808
Les Français battent les Espagnols à Tuleda.
23rd November, 1944
Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division liberates Strasbourg.
23 novembre 1944
La 2e DB de Leclerc libère Strasbourg.
23rd November, 1952
The paratroopers destroy the vanguard of the vietminh's 308th Division.
23 novembre 1952
Les paras détruisent l'avant-garde de la 308e division vietminh.
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20.11.2009
20 novembre
20th November, 1873
Garnier takes Hanoi.
20 novembre 1873
Garnier prend Hanoï.
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19.11.2009
19 novembre
19th November, 1809
The French defeat the Spanish in Ocana.
19 novembre 1809
Les Français battent les Espagnols à Ocana.
19th November, 1916
The French take Monastir.
19 novembre 1916
Les Français prennent Monastir.
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17.11.2009
17 novembre
17th November, 1703
Folllowing Tallard's victory in Spire, Landau surrenders to the French.
17 novembre 1703
Après la victoire de Tallard à Spire, Landau se rend aux Français.
17th November, 1812
Napoléon, with 16,000 men, defeats 35,000 Russians in Krasnoye.
17 novembre 1812
Avec 16000 hommes, Napoléon bat 35000 Russes à Krasnoïe.
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16.11.2009
16 novembre
16th November, 1677
Créqui takes Fribourg.
16 novembre 1677
Créqui prend Fribourg.
16th November, 1805
Napoléon defeats the Russians in Hollabrünn.
16 novembre 1805
Napoléon bat les Russes à Hollabrünn.
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15.11.2009
15 novembre
15th November, 1703
The French defeat the Imperialists in Spire. The French lose 800 killed and wounded, the Empire 5000 killed and wounded, 4000 prisoners and 61 flags.
15 novembre 1703
Les Français battent les Impériaux à Spire. Ils perdent 800 hommes (tués et blessés) contre 5000 pour les Impériaux, sans compter 4000 prisonniers. Les Français récupèrent 28 étendards et 33 drapeaux.
15th November - 17th November, 1796
Bonaparte's victory in Arcole.
15 - 17 novembre 1796
Victoire de Bonaparte à Arcole.
15th November, 1944
The French enter in Belfort, held by SS troops.
15 novembre 1944
Les Français entrent dans Belfort, tenue par les SS.
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