In contrast to Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany 1944, the style of this guide is radically different. British soldiers stationed in France were to be prepared for fraternisation with the French. While reading, it becomes clear that due to the long history of wars and rivalries between France and Great Britain, this was by no means a matter of course. Recommendations to practise empathy run throughout the book. At the same time, it warns against taking stereotypes, especially about French women, at face value. The book is a valuable historical document, particularly in passages such as: ‘Don’t, even if food is offered to you, eat the French out of house and home. If you do, someone may starve.’
This book makes it clear that Europe’s path to internal peace is by no means a given, but rather the result of many personal commitments. This book is enriching for anyone interested in the emergence of the European Union, but also in its potential conflicts.
About:
- Author: The Foreign Office, London
- Title: Instructions for British Servicemen in France 1944
- Date of publication: 1944
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publisher: Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
- Number of pages: 56
- Language: English
- Price: €6.99
- Non-fiction
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