First some context. The third Republic was founded in 1870, after it replaced the Second Empire in the aftermath of the defeat of Sedan to Prussia. The republic is based on a system of two chambers: The Senate, and the chamber of representatives. It's a complex system of checks and balances, elections and appointments.
Every 4 years, the Chamber of Representatives' 500-600 members are elected by the public.
Every 9 years, 300 of the Senate's members are elected by an electoral college made up of local government members, who were in turn elected by the public.
Another 75 members of the Senate are appointed for life and are replaced by the senate itself.
Together, Chamber of Representatives and Senate often form the National Assembly to vote on constitutional changes, to elect the President (every 7 years), and to vote on legislation in general.
The Senate appoints the members of the Supreme Court, and exerts oversight on the Government.
The President, elected every 7 years, is responsible for appointing his cabinet of Ministers and for proposing legislation to be voted on by Parliament. He can also dissolve the Chamber of Representatives, but only with the Senate's authorisation. Anything the President proposes has to be supported by at least one Minister
The real result of this is that the President has limited executive power, he has to rely on the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate to pass his legislation and accept his cabinet.
After the 1936 legislative election, Albert Lebrun, President since 1932, and member of the Socially Liberal 'Alliance Démocratique', had a problem. The left had gained a lot in popularity, which made it necessary for him to go outside his Social Liberal comfort zone and look to the left for a coalition in the Chamber of Representatives and by extension, the National Assembly. The centre-left coalition that emerged from the negotiations included a wide array of parties:
The Social Conservative 'Union Républicaine' (FR in game)
The President's own Social Liberal 'Alliance Démocratique' (ARV in game)
The Social Democratic 'Section Française de l'Internationale Ouvrière' (SFIO in game)
The Socialist 'Gauche Démocratique', a coalition of radical socialists including the 'Gauche Radicale' and the 'Parti Radical Socialiste' (RAD in game)
Despite not being officially part of the government, the Party Communiste Français gave tacit support to the 'Gauche Démocratique' whenever a measure would be rejected by the 'Union Républicaine' for being too pacifist or too left wing.
This lurch to the left was called 'the Popular Front'.
A poster criticising the Popular Front Government. Although some of them had Communist leanings, they really weren't our puppets...
The Government was a mix of members from these various parties with Prime Minister Sarraut and Minister of Security Chautemps from the 'Parti Radical', Foreign Minister Blum from the SFIO, Armament Minister Fabry from the 'Union Républicaine, and the head of intelligence from the President's own Alliance Démocratique. (This wasn't entirely reflected in game, with both 'Parti Radical' Ministers being indicated as members of ARV)
The onset of war, despite the government's pacifist ideals, especially on the left, led to widespread disillusionment, which in turn lead the public to look further to the right.
The replacement of Armament Minister Fabry (UR) by Vincent Auriol (SFIO), several steps to the left, made matters worse. This change, probably made simply because Auriol was more competent and could better inspire factory workers, was contrary to public opinion, which was shifting towards the right. To ad insult to injury, President Lebrun pushed a bill through the National Assembly that would postpone the 1939 Presidential Election indefinitely, until peace was reached. The public outcry following this decision lead to the Assemblée Nationale, and especially the Senate insisting that the 1940 legislative elections had to be held, no matter what.
People where looking for strong leadership, and military strength. The long marginalised 'Action Française', a Monarchist party, saw an opportunity. They went directly to the Generals, most notably Général Henri-Honoré Giraud a veteran of the Great War and several colonial ones, who positively despised the sitting government for skimping on defence before the war broke out. (specifically the decision not to actually motorise his 'Division d'Infanterie Motorisé' annoyed him, the 50 armoured cars he got instead were scant comfort)
The 'Union Républicaine' being tainted by it's participation in the initial coalition, the only acceptable right wing option that wasn't fascist was the monarchists. Quite a few of the Generals were staunch republicans however, and after some discussion, a compromise was reached.
The platform the 'Action Française' ran on in the 1940 elections was one of national pride and strong leadership, within the republican framework. The reformed party promised to put (ex-)Generals in most cabinet positions and enjoyed widespread support amongst the officers of the French Armed Forces. To placate the original Monarchist base, a promise was made to install a member of the Bourbon dynasty as President, but only after the presidency had been reformed to a more symbolic position with even less executive power.
The 'Action Française' won the 4th of May 1940 election by a landslide with a whopping 33% of the population voting for them, which, considering relatively low turnout due to the ongoing war, gave them a majority in the National Assembly. It should be noted that the installation of voting booths in every single HQ and base of the French Armed Forces must have significantly helped the turnout of the largely pro-'Action Française' armed forces.
This is what the 'Action Française' Government looks like:
Head of State (President): Prince Jean de Bourbon (Action Française)
The third son to king Alphonso XIII of Spain and Queen Victoire Eugénie von Battenberg (a British-Hessian Princess), Juan de Borbon y Battenberg (Jean de Bourbon in french) was born in 1913, in a Spanish Royal Palace. Like all the members of the Bourbon family's Spanish branch he was immediately given the double Spanish-French Nationality upon birth and educated in both languages. Not expecting to be successor to the throne, he studied in Madrid, before joining the Navy.
The declaration of the now defunct Second Spanish Republic in 1931 would send the entire Royal family into exile, first to Paris, and then to Rome and Lisbon. Prince Juan, having fled in the middle of his Naval training, obtained permission to continue his training within the British Royal Navy. (His mother is half a British Royal after all)
In 1933, both his elder brothers gave up their claim to the Spanish, and French throne. It should be noted that both his brothers were born with serious health issues. Alphonso has haemophilia, and Jacques is deaf and dumb. Jean suddenly became crown prince and 'Prince of Asturias'. He left the Royal Navy to join his father in his monarchist endeavours.
After the 1940 election in France, Albert Lebrun resigned his Presidency when it became clear that the 'Action Française' wasn't willing to work with him in the National Assembly. Soon thereafter, the National Assembly changed the constitution, the 1884 Law that stipulates that all princes (and kings) are unelectable as president of the republic was revoked and the process of reviewing princes for the position began. At the same time the presidency was reformed as to give the president less power over Military matters, to the benefit of the Ministry of War.
The search for a royal, suitable to all parties began. The Monarchists's first choice based on the line of succession was Jean d'Orléans. However, he was not only old, but also unwilling to take the job, therefor the 'Action Française' turned it's attention to the Spanish branch of the house of Bourbon. The king of Spain in exile was never going to work as the Generals wanted someone of some military experience. His son, Juan, having served in both the Spanish and British Royal Navies, was the perfect candidate. His wife being the daughter of Louise of Orléans (and his cousin), was an added bonus. With little prospect of getting into Spanish power, the Prince gracefully accepted the French Presidency.
Jean de Bourbon is widely regarded as a Benevolent Gentleman, he is well meaning, polite and elegant in his ways. This makes him less susceptible to external pressure (except that from his father), his presence also inspires the French Armed Forces to behave more elegantly and to strive towards better organisation.(Susceptibility to external pressure: -5%, Org. Regain Rate: +5%)
Head of Government (1ier Ministre) and Chief of Staff (Minister of War and National Defence): Général de Division Henri-Honoré Giraud (Action Française)
Born in Paris in 1879, to a coal merchant from the Alsace region, Henri-Honoré Giraud had a brilliant scholarly career, before entering in the Ecole Militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1898. Two years later, his Military studies completed, he was deployed to French Northern Africa.
At the start of the Great War, he was called back to Metropolitan France and commanded the 4ième régiment de zouaves, a unit of northern African Soldiers serving under French officers. In the Regiment's second battle of the war, at Ribemont (Battle of Guise), then Colonel Giraud was heavily wounded and captured by the hun. A mere two months after his capture, he managed to escape to the Netherlands, from where he went to England before returning to France on board the Cruiser that was transporting then Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé as well as the Tsar's Finance Minister Piotr Bark. U
pon his return he became part of Général Franchet d'Espèrey's General Staff (5ième Armée). He returned tot the front in 1917, just in time to have another year of war under his belt.
After the war he followed General Franchet d'Espèrey to a posting in Istanbul, before being called back to serve in the War Ministry under Minister Clémenceau to help reform the Organisational and command structure of the French Army. In 1920, after Clemenceau left the government, now Lieutenant-Colonel Giraud was sent to french Morocco on the explicit demand of Maréchal Lyautey. There, he participated in the 'War of the Rif', with great succes, he even personally accepted the surrender of rebel leader Abd el-Krim in 1926
After the insurrection (or revolt) was dealt with, he returned to France to teach at the 'Ecole de Guerre' (The highest school for French Army Officers) from 1927 to 1929. In March 1930, he was put in command of the brand new 'région Militaire' that includes both Morocco and Algeria. For this task, he was promoted to 'Général de Brigade' and told to pacify the region... He continued leading the fight against Berber rebels until, in 1934 high command considered Northern Africa pacified and rewarded Giraud with the rank of Général de Division.(Maj. General). He remained in Oran until 1936, when he was ordered back to France to take command of the '12ième Division d'Infanterie Motorisée' which was exactly as motorised as the '1ière Division d'Infanterie'...
When the latest war started, Général Giraud's Division was posted in Sélestat on the Maginot Line, initially, the front remained quiet. Once Germany declared war on the Netherlands, and later Belgium in April of last year, things started to heat up, and go wrong, for the french Army. His discontent with the current government's handling of the war soon became an open secret, and it is whispered that this blocked his advancement to higher ranks.
This was not missed by the ambitious leader of the Monarchist 'Action Française', Charles Maurras, who tried to convince the Général to support his movement, thereby legitimising it beyond a monarchist fringe. Giraud, seems to have understood the possibilities of this offer, and set out a list of public, and secret conditions to be met for him to support Maurras. Chief amongst these provisions were the fact that the republic was to be maintained and that the President had to be someone with some Military education and/or experience, conceding that he may be a Royal.
While he was facing down the Germans, the infamous 4th of May election happened, with the overwhelming 'Action Française' victory. The brand new coalition of Monarchist and (ex-)Military commanders thus named the Général de Division, veteran of many battles, to the offices of Prime Minister (replacing Albert Sarraut), and Minister of War (replacing Général Paul Le Gentilhomme, who remained commander of his own '1ière Division d'Infanterie Motorisée', then based in Haguenau). Once the lines caved in, Général Giraud made sure that his predecessor's was the first Division sent to Northern Africa. (Where he was encountered by our spies: l21st of December, 'Odinatsat' #5, Générals and the full french Army retreat)
When Metropolitan France fell, Giraud's Division was captured while he himself made his escape to Hanoi, where he vowed to continue to fight for France's overseas empire.
Général de Division and now Ministre Giraud is an old, and respected Général, and the fact that he is 'Premier Ministre' inspires the troops to strive towards the highest levels of organisation, when they are supplied that is... He is a big proponent of the 'School of Fire Support'. This has focused military minds on reinforcing units already on the offensive for the largest possible punch. (Land Organisation: +5%, Attack Reinforce Chance: +10%)
Foreign Minister: Maurice Bourges-Maunoroy (Action Française)
Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury, born in 1914, to a naval engineer. He studied law and Political Sciences, but also to be a 'Missaire' (some kind of emissary with engineering training), at the Ecole Polytechnique (a school for Military engineers). In 1935, he joined the Artillery as an officer. He has no clear party affiliation but comes from a political family (his grandfather was Minister and his great-grandfather representative to the Chamber), he is very much a republican at heart, and his competence as a military officer as well as his education made him ideally suited for the role of foreign minister within this government.
He is a born General Staffer, as several Artillery officers will attest, and this translates in scrupulous organisation and subtle intelligence gathering. (Intel during peace: +10%)
Armament Minister: Jacques de Guillebon (Action Française)
de Guillebon was born in 1909,. Like Maurice Bourges-Maunoroy, he also studied at the Ecole Polytechnique to become a 'Missaire' in the Artillery. Fnishing his studies in 1930, an officer in the Colonial Artillery, de Guillebon is sent to French Somalia in 1935, then to french equatorial Africa and back to France to command the 'Régiment de Tirrailleurs Sénégalais du Tchad' in 1939.
A technocrat without clear political affiliation, just like Maurice Bourges-Maunoroy, with experience in Africa, he knows a thing or two about resources and mines.Through his efficient guidance more resources are extracted and fewer are wasted. (Resources +5%, Chemical Engineering Decay -25%)
Minister of Security: Eugene Charles Dunoyer (de Segonzac) (Action Française) None
We don't know much about this man, we don't even have a picture. He was born in 1882, he studied at the Ecole Militaire de St-Cyr and finished his studies in 1905. He participated in the Great War, during which he was Lieutenant, and then Capitaine from 1915 until 1926, when he was promoted to Chef de Bataillon (Commander), then Lieutenant-Colonel in 1931, and Colonel in 1935. He was then promoted Général de Brigade in 1939. In 1938 he was commander of the infantry within the '5ème Division d'Infanterie Motorisée', an Actual Motorised Division on the Spanish border. On several occasions he took interim command of the Division, before he was pulled to become Minister of Security.
He must have been well-liked by some of his fellow generals to get this post. And being well-liked is easy, when you are a compassionate gentleman of a Général, this does mean that Security isn't always as tight as it should be, especially on the propaganda front. This means that National Unity is more susceptible to events and situations. (NU Changes +10%)
Head of Intelligence: Paul Repiton-Preneuf (Action Française) None
Born in 1904, Paul Repiton-Preneuf also studied the Ecole Polytechnique, but then went on to study at the 'Ecole Nationale Supériuere du Pétrole in Strasbourg. In 1931, he takes a job at the 'Asiatic Petroleum Company in London as an Engineer. He travels a lot for his job and otherwise, and in 1936, he becomes Director of Shell in Syria until late 1938. He is mobilised at the rank of Lieutenant in March 1939.
He must have impressed to be selected by Giraud as Head of Intelligence. Despite his short stint in the Army after the Mobilisation, he isn't really a Military man, he is an anti-conformist and open to other cultures. As a former petroleum engineer, he is a research specialist, and he has travelled far and wide. This is clearly to the benefit of intelligence gathering, a more creative and non-conformist endeavour than warfare, and probably better suited to the man. (Land Intel +20%)
Chief of the Army: Maurice Gamelin (ARV / Action Démocratique) None
Born in 1972, Maurice Gamelin grew up across the street from the Ministry of War building. His father Zéhpyrin, 'Contoleur Général des Armées' had distinguished himself under Napoéon 3 of the Second Empire. After a brilliant scholarly career, Gamelin joined the Ecole Minitaire de Saint-Cyr, graduating as first of his class in 1893.
His career started off as a Major in Northern Africa in the 3ième Rgt. De Tirailleurs Algériens, then with the Topographic Brigade of Tunisia, where he could best utilise his skills for observation and drawing. At his return in Metropolitan France, he took part in the admission test for the Ecole Supérieure de la Guerre, he came 8th on the test, and went on to graduate second of his class in 1897. He was spotted for his intellectual ability by future Général Lanrezac while at the school. Following an internship with the General staff of the 15th Corps, he becames company commander in the 15ième Bataillon de Chasseurs. He was admired by his superiors for his intelligence and efficiency. In 1906, he published 'Etude philosohpique sur l'Art de la Guerre', a book that gained him international recognition as one of the best Military thinkers of the period.
Following a recommendation by Lieutenant-Colonel Foch of the school, he was named Ordnance Officer to Général Joffre, commander of the 6ième Division d'Infanterie, and promoted to Capitaine. Gamelin would go on to follow Général Joffre to the 2ième Corps d'Armée, then, in 1910, at the War Council.
In 1911, he was separated from his mentor and superior, to lead the 11e Bataillon de chasseurs, after being promoted to Chef de Battalion. At the start of the Great War, Gamelin was called back to the staff of his former master, now Chief of the Army Joffre. He quit the 'Grand Quartier Général' in November that same year, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, he took command of the '2e Demi-brigade de chasseurs à pied'. With this unit he went on to fight in Alsace and at the Somme, impressing many Generals along the way. December 1916 sees him become Général de Brigade. After another short stint in the 'GQG', he was named Chief of Staff of the Reserves Army Group, commanded by Général Micheler. In may 1917, he got his first Divisional command with the 9e Division d'Infanterie, where he showed both a serious effort to preserve the lives of his men, and a great tactical ability until the end of the war.
From 1919 to 1924, Général Gamelin lead the french military mission in Brasil, then from 1924 to 1929, he commanded the French forces in the Levant, pacifying the territory. Upon his return home, he Commanded the 20e Région Militaire around Nancy before succeeding Général Weygand as Chief of the Army and in 1935 he cumulated the job with the job of Army inspector General, something only Joffre had done before him. In 1936 he was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces under President Lebrun, but after the outbreak of war, he was replaced by Paul Le Gentilhomme. It's not clear exactly why, another unpopular move by an unpopular government.
Nevertheless, he retained the Command of Paris HQ, presiding over military matters in an Area stretching eastward along the Belgian border up to the edges of the
Maginot Line, south along the coast until La Rochelle, and including the City and Air BaseTroyes, and everything North-West of it, including Paris and the Channel ports. Respected as an intellectual and a great tactician by Generals and Field Marshalls across Europe, it was not very surprising that the newly elected government around Général Giraud would select the previously demoted Maréchal Gamelin to be Chief of the Army once again.
Gamelin is a staunch proponent of the Static Defence Doctrine that won France the Great War, he loves dug in Infantry, making sure that the Infantry is well trained and equipped is his main priority. (Infantry and Militia Practical Decay -25%)
He was born 1908 to a skipper turned administrative agent for the department of Maritime Affairs. After obtaining his baccalauréat, Jules Evenou moved to Rouen to study 'specialist Mathematics' in order to prepare himself for the Naval Academy, which he entered in 1927. After his graduation he quickly rose through the ranks, staring out as Enseigne de Vaissau 2nd Class in 1929, then promoted to 1st Class in 1931, and to Lieutenant de Vaisseau (Captain of a small vessel or subordinate commander on a large one) in 1937.During this time, he cycled through many different vessels, including the Adroit-Class Destroyer Boulonnais, the ancient Cruiser Edgar Quinet, the Battleship Provence, as well as the submarines Nautilus and Phoque.
At the start of the war, Evenou was posted to the Contre-Torpilleur(Destroyer) Tigre of the Jaguar Class. After only a few months he was transferred to the Submarine Cruiser Surcouf, the largest submarine in the world, raiding convoys out of Guadeloupe. He continued his rise to the rank to Capitaine de Frégate, commanding the Surcouf.
In Early 1940, Amiral François Darlan, too critical of his own government, was sacked as Chief of the Navy, but he was happy to retain command of the '1ière Flotte de France', the flagship fleet of the Marine Nationale. Darlan was replaced by Etienne Schlumberger, a young Naval Engineer who studied in the Ecole Polytechnique, with brains, but little combat or command experience.
Schlumberger had always been a strange choice, and shortly before the election, Evenou made it into the papers by decimating a German Convoy bound for Boston to pick up american rare materials off the coast of St. John. The Americans were mad, but as the sinking happened in British waters, they couldn't really justify anything more than a stern letter. No Americans were harmed, and it was a great propaganda victory, especially the part where 'Richard' showed mercy by picking survivors from the Wreckage and delivering them to St. John. On top of his giant submarine no less. Sadly, we didn't get a picture of this, but you can imagine the scoop.
Evenou was loved by the public and he was thus soon promoted to Amiral and given the Chief of the Navy job. Evenou is a fan of big ships and submarines, he wants to preserve and expand the French Battleship fleets in order to be ready for the inevitable (in his mind) Decisive Naval Battle. Out of protest against the fact that the government refused to start building a series of 12 super-battleships, he has rejoined the Surcouf in Guadeloupe and is leading convoy raiding operations in and around the Caribbean, he is said to receive his briefings via coded radio transmission every week or so. (Capital Ship Practical Decay -25%)
Chief of the Air Force (Ministre de l'Air): Victor Denain (ARV)
Born in 1880, Victor Léon Ernest Denain studied at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr , graduating in 1903 as a Cavalryman. He served in the 6ème Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval (Cavalry) before switching to aviation. To that effect, he studied at the 'Ecole Supérieure de Guerre', graduating in 1914 as an Aeroplane-based observer, and an staffer. In August 1915 he gets his pilot's license at the Ecole d'Aviation Militaire in Chartres. Commissioned as a Commander, Denain became chief of the Aeronautical Service of the French Army of the Orient.
After the Great War, Commander Denain served in the Levant under Général Weygand until 1923, when he joined the Military House of the President (a military advisory board to the president). Then, in 1928, he was named chief of the French Military Mission in Poland. Between March 1933 and February 1934, he served as interim-Chief of the Air Force, replacing Général Joseph, then he became Ministre de l'Air (Air (force) Minister). Denain stayed on as Minister of the Air until mid 1938, when he was replaced by a political appointee from the Socialist SFIO who had never flown a plane in his life, probably to placate the socialists in the governing coalition and especially the Communists who were still tacitly supporting the coalition, while the Social Conservatives were having trouble with the direction the government had taken.
Denain returned to the Army with the rank of Général d'Armée Aérienne (full Air General), with the job of Inspector General of French Overseas Aerial Forces. A brilliant Pilot, Denain tended to fly himself everywhere, even when he was Minister of the Air. A much told story is that of Minister Denain flying his own Bréguet 27, accompagnied by two squadrons of Bréguet 27's and a Dewoitine, to the funeral of king Alexader of Yugoslavia in 1934. As an inspector he personally flew daring long-range flights into remote Colonial Air Fields to do his inspecting.
The new government likes people with a Military backgroung, not to mention a good reputation within the higher ranks of the French Army (Denain is Général Weygand's protégé). Denain makes even more sense as France, right now, only consists of those territories Général Denain used to inspect. During his first term as Air Minister Denain was already a strong proponent of Bomber production and Carpet Bombing, but the Spanish Civil war is said to have turned his mind more towards close Air Support. However considering the ranges involved in managing the French overseas empire, it's probable that Denain has reverted to a new type of Heavy Aircraft thinking, prioritising range over size and bomb load. (Heavy Aircraft Practical Decay -25%)
'Mother' and our Hanoi spy cell have provided a good amount of information on the remaining french Industry, armed forces, and research. It should be noted that this:
Industry:
A total of 18 Industrial complexes, or 29 effective IC if we take laws and efficiency into account.
Current production is devoted to the construction of convoy Escort ships and expanding the Air Base in Edd along the Suez Canal. Considering France doesn't seem to have any land-based planes left, this seems pretty pointless. Maybe they have a deal with the RAF?
As for Resources, they are using up more metal and Energy than they are producing, and will run out Metal in a few days, and out of Energy in a month. They do have a stockpile of more than 6.000 tons of Rare Materials. Money is also running low.
Most of the Industry is producing new weapons and supplies for existing units.
Armed Forces:
In northern Africa 8 Divisions were present at the end of December. Of these there is one light Cavalry Division with a mix of trucks and horses, one Mountaineer Division, and 6 Infantry Divisions, of which one is a Belgian expeditionary Division. Some Armoured Cars, Artillery, Anti-Tank Guns, and Anti-Air Guns are present as well.
All this is organised within the two Corps of the 'Armée de Tunésie', which reports to Weygand's Armée de l'Afrique, and finally to Tunis HQ, based in Oran.
Moreover, there are two Garrison Units dug in in Casablanca, and all of the french Surface ships are based in north Africa:
In Oran Naval Base, there are 4 Battleships, the Carrier Béarn, 6 Heavy Cruisers, 3 Light Cruisers, 32 Destroyers, and a badly Damaged troop transport ship
In Casablanca Naval Base, Fast Battleship Dunkerque, 3 Light Cruisers, 15 Destroyers and 30 troop transport ships.
All of these units are out of Supply, but they have plenty of fuel, and enough transports to carry all of them, minus some equipment. Which means that they might be able to embark and sail to Lebanon, or even Indochina when they run out of land to retreat on.
It is believed a further three light Mountaineer Divisions are located across Eastern Africa near Ethiopia, and a single Infantry Division is based in Hanoi, another in Brazzaville, and another on the Pacific island of Nouméa.
A number of Submarines are based across the Atlantic, and commanded from Dakar HQ, we believe most of them are raiding in the Caribbean region. There number is estimated to be somewhere between 60 and 90 submarines, including the Surcouf.
Only the French forces in North and West Africa are believed to experience a lack of supplies, all the other theatres are well supplied and ready to fight.
There is a serious lack of trained officers with barely more than half the needed number. Without a homeland, the French are also badly divided, and National unity is at about 20%
Research and technology:
We believe that french scientists in Hanoi are currently working on better Medium Tank Armour, while theorists seem to be working on better mobile warfare. Both perfectly logical pursuits in their current situation, with an infantry-based army and very limited industry.
Despite this, the French Army did set up large Military Academies in Hanoi to attempt to make up for the Officer shortage, which is taking up a majority of french intellectuals in Indochina. Considering the small number of units, officer ratios could reach acceptable levels in about 3 months.
Technology and Doctrines of French units are acceptable, but there are serious doubts on the ability of the government in exile to keep it that way for years to come.
In conclusion, France is still alive. Their fleet is still a force to be reckoned with, if they ever manage to supply or rebase it. Their remaining Army could still cause some damage in smaller theatres, again, if they are well supplied... If the French manage to evacuate out of North Africa, their troops, and especially their navy, can still make a bit of a difference, although all depends on the new Government's handling of it's, now meagre, troops, resources and industry.
There is no need to pay serious attention to what France is doing anymore.
The next report will be on the United Kingdom, hoping that some of our spies survive long enough to be of some help,
Until the next time,
'Tri', 'Shest', and 'Mother',
