35 replies to this topic

[pmlogg]

In American Thunder it states that the French ordered 3,000 Thompson's in November 1939 and another 3,000 in March 1940. Only the first lot were delivered for obvious reasons.

Is it known what happened to the 3,000 (Colt 1928's?)? Did any reappear after the liberation?

Thanks

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

These TSMG's were only slightly used by the French in that they were dropped only once when surrendering. The Vichy French used them for their police forces. The Germans also used them in their propaganda war films.

[snipershot1944]

I believe that there are photos of French soldiers in Indo China carrying Thompsons. The soldiers were probably German nationals in the French Foreign Legion.

Actually, the Germans in WWII did type identify the French/British Thompsons that they captured in 1940 and reissued them to second line troops. Ammunition was an issue that limited their use.

Sniper

[colt21a]

and a bunch ended up in indo-china.and of course the belgian congo,and a few other hot spots in the late fifties and sixties,

still looking for that pic of castro with the m1a1.......its out there someplace..............famous people with famous thompson's............still have not gotten around to that pic of hemingway with his 21a...............over.take care,ron

[Norm]

QUOTE (Arthur Fliegenheimer @ May 14 2004, 03:25 PM)

These TSMG's were only slightly used by the French in that they were dropped only once when surrendering. The Vichy French used them for their police forces. The Germans also used them in their propaganda war films.

Droped only once while surendering!

Now that IS funny!

[The1930sRust]

QUOTE (Arthur Fliegenheimer @ May 14 2004, 03:25 PM)

These TSMG's were only slightly used by the French in that they were dropped only once when surrendering.

Just fowled me britches! I just about deleted this entire post; to mention 'Thompson' and 'French' at the same time...gaahh!

[full auto 45]

"trab pu kcip, trab pu kcip"

Chris you watch to much Simpson's................."pick up bart, pick up bart"

[21 smoker]

Is this a new double secret code?...Am I still on `Double secret probation`?...Chris I thought you were quoting french or something...this is all so confusing...all this just `cause the french greeted the nazis with both hands in the air...I just figured they were real friendly...nah,out.

[full auto 45]

The French men greeted the Germans with both hands in the air while the French women greeted the Americans with both legs in the air! Hahahahahaha!!!

[Ron Mills]

You guys have probably heard this one already, but here goes: Do you know the 4 levels of terrorism alert in France?

1) Run
2) Hide
3) Surrender
4) Collaborate

Any French folks reading this, sorry if this offends you. But I think it's pretty funny!

[JimFromFL]

I heard they only shipped the reject Thompsons. You know, the ones that failed inspections or failed to function correctly. They figured it wouldn't matter as the French were just going to drop them anyway.

Ok, maybe we went too far. (Sorry)

[Ron A]

I understand Disney had to quit having fireworks each night at Disney Euro – because the French kept surrendering.

[philasteen]

QUOTE (hardrede @ May 15 2004, 09:41 PM)

De Gaulle told Johnson to get ALL American troops out of France in the 60's. Johnson replied, "Even the hundreds of thousands buried in your cemeteries?" DeGaulle STFU!!!!

Do you have a source for that? That quote is suspicious.

[Mk VII]

somebody else recalled seeing a newpaper cartoon at the time showing the ghosts of two G.I.s of both wars making this point. This may be the origin of the story.

[TSMGguy]

Arthur: I usually resist wading in on your posts, letting them speak for themselves. Never forget, however, that the Battle of France in 1940 was a very closely run thing. Half of German casualties occured AFTER the British debacle at Dunquerque. The battle of Sedan could easily have gone to the French, and been decisive.

Some French divisional commanders wept openly when the order to surrender was given, as many had the Germans on the run and were winning.

The French military was sold out by defeatists at the very highest levels. There was no widespread lack of courage or will to fight on the part of the armed forces as a whole.

The story of Vichy France is a whole different story.

The "thrown down once" crap is a bit much.

[Z3BigDaddy]

Wasn't it the French who helped us in our little squabble with the English a couple hundred years or so ago.......

[john]

Unbeknownst to most.....

The French, never quite happy with the flawless performance of the Thompson (after designing the (In)famous Chauchat in WWI) redesigned the gun by removing some parts, adding others and modifying still others UNTIL their end goal was realized. The gun then performed as reliably as the other stuff that they actually did design.
This not only kept their arms designers busy, as well as their manufacturers, but also facilitated easier surrender.
Even those soldiers who had thoughts of fighting were rendered helpless by the inability of the gun to operate properly and were thus "forced" to do the right thing

Actual dialogue of a couple of unknown French soldiers in Bastogne in WWII:

"Eh Pierre, 'ow does these bullets get loaded een zees magazines, eh?"

"Oh HO! Jacques! You Fool! You are putting zee boolets een backwards! Oh ho HO! Zee Tommygun weel nevair function zat way!!"

"But Pierre, eef we load zee bullets een backwairds, Oh HO, zee gun weel fail to go zee rat-atat-tat OH HO HO ! And we weel be forced to surrender and this weel save us from zee battlefield owies!!"

"Jacques, you are sooooo smart! Oh HO! Zat ees zee reason that you are a General and ah am only a Capitan!!!"


Absolutely true statements!!

john

[Z3BigDaddy]

QUOTE (hardrede @ May 17 2004, 06:56 AM)

Not really. They were opportunitsts.

Okayyyy soooo... They didn't help us? And 'we' didn't ask for help? I wasn't assigning motives....

[bigred]

Okay guys... I know we got the Male American Testosterone thing going on with the "We beat the world", but let's not try to come up with revisionist history. Ignorant American arrogance makes us all look like dumb ******. Can't we just admit that we needed help with the War for Independence!? It isn't rocket science to see that Washington was getting his butt whooped and smeared all across the countryside. What do you expect from such a small army? (If you could really call the colonials an army?).
If the French didn't help (no matter what their motives were) then we most likely would have lost and lost badly. Why do you think we were so chummy chums with them during the War of 1812? Ben Franklin was a huge celebrity in France, and we did not have our "better than you" arrogance when they were saving our butts. Yes, saving our butts and helping us become a nation. Also - if France hadn't been in a war with England during the whole 1812 thing, then the English would have done far more than just burning Washington DC.
If you don't like the idea of being ruled by the King of england - thank the French because they were the ones fighting our mother country when we were still a weak fledgling nation. Let me say it again - If England hadn't been busy fighting the French, we'd still be ruled by England! So for once, can we please ditch the arrogant, condescending bull**** towards the French. It's old.
And no, I'm not French, never been to France, don't really like the country or the language, but I don't like hearing Americans trash other countries just like the rest of the world trash us. Let's grow up and get over it for Pete's Sake. Ok, got that out of my system... I feel better.

Another thing, I'm almost done... I'm betting that if we had seen as much warfare on our home front like the French did in the last century - we wouldn't want anymore war either. The French have been waging war and spilling their blood for centuries before we even existed... We never experienced (except for 4 years 1861-65) war like the French have and that is sure to create a certain disposition to war.

Oh one more thing, about the French being opportunists. When has the United States not been opportunists? We are one of the most opportunists nations on earth! How else do you think we got where we are! Let's think - Phillippines, Panama, Carribean Islands- Cuba, China, Canada, and Mexico. Also how about people groups? Native Americans, African-Americans, Chinese Immigratns, Japanese-Americans, Irish Immigrants, German Immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and the list could go on and on. yeah I would say that we have a pretty opportunistic past. If "he who is without sin, cast the first stone" statement is true, then I think we ought to be silent and not point fingers when it comes to who are opportunists. ok I'm done again. Phew! my fingers are tired.

By the way, none of this is to be taken too offensively, but see I live among rednecks, and I hear this crap constantly and just can't stand it anymore. Sometimes I can see why people in the rest of the world aren't too friendly with us and our attitudes.
Jaron

[colt21a]

all french women under 30 apply here:

i have no problem with that!! wink!!

take care,ron