Handbooks of Armed Forces, France, Part II; A Comprehensive Outline of the Development of the Armed Forces of France from 1920 to the Present

Lindsborg, KS: Trogen Publications, 1983. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Wraps. Very good. [8], 148, [4] pages. Illustrations. Maps Bibliography. Cover has slight wear and soiling. The French Armed Forces (French: Forces armées françaises) encompass the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the National Guard and the Gendarmerie of the French Republic. The President of France heads the armed forces as chef des armées. France maintains the sixth largest defence budget in the world and the first in the European Union (EU). France has the largest armed forces in size in the European Union.[4] France also maintains the world's third-largest nuclear deterrent (behind Russia and the United States). The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas including modern France, greater Europe, and French territorial possessions overseas. According to the British historian Niall Ferguson, France has participated in 50 of the 125 major European wars fought since 1495, and in 168 battles fought since 387 BC, they have won 109, drawn 10 and lost 49: this makes France the most successful military power in European history-in terms of number of fought and won. In the Second World War, the Allies, including the government in exile's Free French Forces and later a liberated French nation, eventually emerged victorious over the Axis powers. As a result, France secured an occupation zone in Germany and a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.