That's what i thought, but wasn't sure. My techear isn't one who controls what she says( she may be a little nuts) I don't take things seriuosly...none of her students do our she would not be teaching. from what i learned of frech culture, The French are good fighters and the FFL training is possibly one of the most harsh there is as well as the Marines. It Would be a Very close Battle.

About my last thread, i said Bunkerbuster, I got a little distracted LOL

About WW1, if you say that USA and Russia are both rank#1 WW2 winners, then France is the lone WW1 rank#1 winner. In those two wars UK+Commonwealth are close to rank#1 but a bit under. About Legion vs Marines, you are comparing green berets vs pseudo-light infantry. It's like comparing caviar vs potatoes, for the same amount of money it will hard to move your potatoes stock... Is Legion (not all the Legion but let say 2 or 3 regiments) able to block (defeate) a heavy mechanised well-trained corp, it is not their job but history showed that yes: Bir-Hakeim battle. Bye.

France had 39 million people in 1914 and Germany 68 millions. And althought it did big mistakes (as UK or US in WW2 or Russians), French command was far from inept in WW1 with Marne, Verdun or Second Marnes victories not to mention great innovation in warfare like radio, airplane use, road mobility, integrated DIVARTY artillery..

>>About Legion vs Marines, you are comparing green berets vs pseudo-light infantry. It's like comparing caviar vs potatoes, for the same amount of money it will hard to move your potatoes stock...<< Nope, it's like the Rangers vs. The USMC, the FFL is totally different than a SOF force. And it's like 15,000 to 172,000. More along the lines of a 8 ounce steak to an all you can eat buffet :) >>Is Legion (not all the Legion but let say 2 or 3 regiments) able to block (defeate) a heavy mechanised well-trained corp, it is not their job but history showed that yes: Bir-Hakeim battle<< Yes, well I am sure the Legion was not facing M1A2's, JDAM's, AAV's, and the most "testerone filled", baddest, toughest young men in the world. Oorah!

Somehow the German Alliance in WWI were able to kill 3 Triple Entente + Italian soldiers for every 2 they lost. 5 million to 3.4 million. Why? Russian ineptitude? Idiotic Franco-British offensives? BTW American deaths in the six months their army was involved were about 115,000. More than died in Korea and Vietnam combined not a trivial contribution but of course much less than the 1.7 million Russian, 1.4 million French, 950 thousand British and 700 thousand Italian deaths. Despite the heroism and horrific losses of the Triple Entente and Italy, did they have enough remaining resources in 1918 to defeat Germany without the US? Perhaps not, but that takes nothing away from the Russians, French, British and Italians.

The contest would be more reasonable if we compare 8000 FFL vs 8000 marines plus support heavy equipment (artillery+planes+helos+tank) in equal number. Or 80% best of (army+airforce)french forces vs whole marine corps as they are similar in size and equipment.We assume that manning of support force is limited to same number in both camp. In both case I predict a french victory. For exemple: 8000 FFL vs 8000 US marine infantery supported by one tank regiment each,3 artillery bataillon and 150 planes (Rafale-M2000-5-M2000D) vs 150 F18-av8B. Or 172 000 US marine vs 172 000 French selecting their best units. BTW , FFL in France are not considered to be the best troops but among the best. French marines units and special forces are at least equivalent or better. http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/terre/decouverte/presentation_de_l_armee_de_terre/armes_et_composantes/troupes_de_marine/1er__regiment__parachutiste_dinfanterie_de_marine List of French marines units: http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/terre/decouverte/presentation_de_l_armee_de_terre/armes_et_composantes/troupes_de_marine/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_arme_blindee_cavalerie/

What about the senirio? Is it in a desert or jungle? What about the objective? Veitam beat the superior Americans, so the enviroment and senirio does count. what does the FFL specialize in? For Exemple, marines work cloesly with the navey and are good at amphebias attacks.

in FFL troops are trained also in amphibious operations http://www.legionetrangere.fr/leg/default_zone/fr/html/page4609.html Troops are polyvalent with each compagnies having a major specialty (with NCO to train others).Funny to see they have also war dogs for urban warfare.

ver: hello. In response to your latest: I dont give much credit to the AH Empire. For as large as they were, they did not perform very well. It is true that they were allied with the germans, but to my knowledge, they were busy getting their butts kicked by the inept russians and Italians. To my knowledge, they never fought on the western front. Considering the type of warfare at the time, the average french soldier did do a decent job. After all, one point I left out, was despite the fact that France and Britian never defeated Germany per se, Germany NEVER reached paris, despite being as close as what...30 miles or so? In addition, most if any other army, when saddled with leaders that were inept and sacraficed so many needlessly, I think they too would have refused to fight until some higher-up's heads were removed from their ass'. SO, to be fair, anyone can turn it around on the germans. One thing I think that is great about France is their treatment of the WW2 vets. To my understanding, when the vets go over to france-esp in the normandy area during reunions, esp the 40th, 50th, and 60th anniverary, they are well taken care of. And to my knowledge, when one goes over and the French find out that he was a WW2 vet that fought in france, he is also well taken care of by those who remember. I cant say that for the younger generation though........I would think its like Korea....the older folks remember the Korean war and are very generous, gracious and helpful to americans, especially the vets, but the younger generation, esp those under 25 have no experience and recollection and tend to be more rude or critical and self-absorbed. Finally, Alot of great history/products have came out of France. Militarily, I LOVE the leclerc and Rafale, not to mention the amx-30 and variants....(in a 60-70's time frame) and then most people forget that france had the 6th light ad and 3 fighter sq.-well over 10000 men