France ended the First World War victorious but devastated. Over a million and a half young Frenchmen had been killed and much of northern France had been destroyed. Determined to crush Germany, her leaders were nevertheless haunted by the fear of another war. 'This is not peace; it is an armistice for 20 years,' warned Marshal Foch. His warning was prophetic. Not only was another war unavoidable but French attempts to control Germany were continually undermined by economic weakness and fierce social and political divisions at home. France's road to war led inevitably towards defeat.
