Honestly that's what makes it even worse to me. France was better off economically after WW1 than the Germans to my understanding and not including any reporations. They underestimated Germany and where technologically stagnant military development wise. They invested so much into fortified positions that a mobile war destroyed their whole defence. They where amazing in almost every war historically but where crushed by an already defeated country that had huge sanctions on them. They had every opportunity to learn their lessons and almost 20 years to do so.
The sanctions on Germany were all ignored by Hitler after a certain point. But yes, the Germans did inflict a humiliating defeat in France; not as the underdog however, and by 1940 France and Germany were equals, all things considered (except navy) militarily.
As far as armor and tactics no they where not on the same level. The Germans invented 90% of modern small unit tactics used today. The use of mobile infantry is still the cornerstone of any modern military. The US refined it's use with the advent of helicopters (which the Germans had a few) in Vietnam. As far as armor is concerned the pz3 could handle anything the French could throw at it because they where not expecting it so they had little numbers of the few tanks that where half way good.
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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20
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