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For this episode, I would like to recommend The Storm of War, a new history of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts.

The Second World War lasted for 2,174 days, cost 1.5 trillion and claimed the lives of more than 50 million people.

But what were the factors that affected the war's outcome?

Why did the access lose and could they, with a different strategy, have won?

Andrew Roberts' acclaimed new history has been hailed as the finest single-volume account of this epic conflict.

From the Western Front to North Africa, from the Baltic to the Far East, he tells the story of the war, the grand strategy and the individual experience, the cruelty and the heroism as never before.

meticulously researched and masterfully written, The Storm of War gives a dramatic account of this momentous event and shows in remarkable detail why the war took the course it did.

Hello, and thank you for listening to A History of World War II podcast, Episode 31, The Beginning of the End of The Third Republic.

France was on the precipice, her best troops and armor were gone, her air force was shattered.

The two leading generals, Vega and Paeton, much loved and respected by the populace, increased their control over the shaky government, and they no longer wanted to fight Germany.

But Premier Renault did, and Churchill wanted to help him in any way he could. Hitler had to be stopped.

As for Hitler, he got on with his war against France. He wasn't much worried about Britain and Churchill's defiant speeches. They would see the light soon enough.

On June 5th, the day after Dunkirk surrendered, the German forces that had been building up along the River Somme and southeast of it started to move.

It was time to drive on Paris and end this, with yet another amazing success led by their Blitzkrieg tactics.

The British could only offer one infantry division and part of an armored division. Considering the results of the previous British intervention, even the small gesture should have been respected by the French, but it was not.

Also, the RAF could provide few planes. Air Martial downing had already given more help to the French than he felt best for Britain.

Enough had to be saved for the home defense, or it would all end up being meaningless. As for the British, the question was, how much do you help someone who is going to lose anyway?

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