The Collapse of the Third Republic

Part Three Of Three Parts William L. Shirer sets the stage for this examination in his prologue. "The collapse of the French Third Republic in the balmy May-June-July days of 1940 was an awesome spectacle. In a span of six weeks this parliamentary democracy the worlds second largest empire one of Europess principal powers went down to catastrophic military defeat. Its citizens heirs to a long and glorious history were left dazed and completely demoralized." Shirer himself lived in Germany and France prior to the outbreak of WW II. He was intimately familiar with both civilizations and his reporting sounded the warning bell. But who wanted to wake up? "Exhaustive research and the personal experience of his years in France before WW II suit Shirer exactly to this task." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)