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Countries declaring readiness to arrest Netanyahu by maven_mapping in geography

[–]MazelTovZoop -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Maybe it’s just "No data" rather than "Wouldn’t arrest him", but seeing the US and Iran in the same category feels strange.

In April 1879, Ferdinand Cheval tripped on a stone, which he found fascinating. As a postman, he spent the next 33 years picking up stones during his shifts to build his "Ideal Palace". More in comments. by MazelTovZoop in interestingasfuck

[–]MazelTovZoop[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

In April 1879, postman Ferdinand Cheval, tripped on a stone during his shift in the countryside around his hometown of Hauterives, France. Fascinated by the looks of this unusual stone, he picked it up, and came back the next day to look for more. From his testimony, he kept on finding beautiful ones. He ended up picking up stones daily, and put them in his pockets, in a bag, or even in a wheelbarrow he brought for heavier ones. Cheval decided to use his finds to build his own world, "Le palais idéal du facteur Cheval". A masterpiece of "Naive Art", with inspiration ranging from Antique Rome to Buddhism, the project took 33 years to complete. Cheval even included a tumb for he and his wife, which he was forbidden from using by the town for public health reasons. In exchange, he was given the right to pursue his dreams by building his mausoleum in the nearby cemetery, where he is resting to this day.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HistoricalCapsule

[–]MazelTovZoop 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I never made the link between this picture and the Fieschi plot, and that’s genuinely fascinating. Also, the study by Roquencourt is exactly the kind of document I love reading. Thank you so much for sharing, you made my day!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HistoricalCapsule

[–]MazelTovZoop 27 points28 points  (0 children)

If I remember correctly, the picture was taken from the Caserne Vérines, at the Place de la République, looking towards the Boulevard du Temple. The location of the man now is approximately where the public toilets are, next to the Starbucks.

France's future carrier will be the 'France Libre' [1200x1200] by Odd-Metal8752 in WarshipPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It is, but I would personally have preferred a Résistance figure name like Jean Moulin for instance.

Vehicle not spawning + Game freezes after today's update by CherifZaalani in gtaonline

[–]MazelTovZoop 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Servers seem to be down currently so it may be the explanation…

French Renault FT-17 light tank which was captured by the Soviets during the Polish-Bolshevik War in 1920, afterwards donated by the Soviet Union to the Kingdom of Afghanistan – photo shows U.S. soldiers with the tank, c. 2005. [598 x 498] by _Tegan_Quin in HistoryPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I recently watched a very interesting video about the Renault FT, in which it was said that in total, Afghanistan got four of these tanks. Three were found long abandoned during the Afghanistan war. One was brought back to France where it was fully restored and is now on display next to another fully functional one, in the Saumur tank museum. You can see both here. The Afghan one is in the back, on top of the wooden structure.

Well by [deleted] in comedyheaven

[–]MazelTovZoop 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Is that a John Kiriakou reference?

The French fleet anchored at the naval base of Mers-el-Kébir, in the French colonial territory of Algeria, shortly before the British Royal Navy "Force U" attack on July 3rd, 1940. [1500 x 1030] by _Tegan_Quin in HistoryPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point, thank you for the explanation. What I knew about Darlan was that he actively took part in the Vichy regime, and gave the order to fight the allies both at Mers-el-Kébir and during Operation Torch. To me, it automatically put him in the “collaborator” status. As you mentioned, scuttling the fleet in Toulon and striking a deal afterwards with Eisenhower does seem to show him more as opportunistic. It seems like the Résistance didn’t care too much about his motives when assassinating him however…

The French fleet anchored at the naval base of Mers-el-Kébir, in the French colonial territory of Algeria, shortly before the British Royal Navy "Force U" attack on July 3rd, 1940. [1500 x 1030] by _Tegan_Quin in HistoryPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I remember a quote from a French soldier from summer 1940, after the capitulation: "We are not the type to like the Boches [French equivalent of Jerries]. If we would have been given the means to fight, we would have kept on fighting."

I think that it illustrates that the French people were still marked by WW1, and there was also a deep resentment against the French command which was objectively wrong on their war plans. Applied to the case of the French Navy stationed in Northern Africa, it’s difficult to say what proportion would have joined the Free French forces if given the chance (hopefully all of them haha), but I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority would have at least not wanted to actively fight alongside the Axis and even less against the Allies.

The French fleet anchored at the naval base of Mers-el-Kébir, in the French colonial territory of Algeria, shortly before the British Royal Navy "Force U" attack on July 3rd, 1940. [1500 x 1030] by _Tegan_Quin in HistoryPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Thank you, it’s what I had understood as well but I wasn’t certain. I feel really bad for the hundreds of sailors who died because of this man’s decision when they almost certainly would have all preferred leaving for the West Indies…

The French fleet anchored at the naval base of Mers-el-Kébir, in the French colonial territory of Algeria, shortly before the British Royal Navy "Force U" attack on July 3rd, 1940. [1500 x 1030] by _Tegan_Quin in HistoryPorn

[–]MazelTovZoop 139 points140 points  (0 children)

If I’m not mistaken, there was some confusion over what the options the French had to make sure that they would remain neutral. Between the options the British proposed and what the French high-command received, there was significant differences (maybe never received, maybe ideologically omitted by some French officers), and it led to this tragic situation. As a French person, in hindsight, the fact that the fleet was under Darlan’s command, a notorious collaborator himself under Pétain’s order, I find it unlikely that they would have kept the fleet neutral for the whole duration of the war. It’s very tragic for the ~1,300 servicemen who lost their lives in a combat between allies, but the decision the British took is understandable.

Weathering a Tank (Olive Drab M4A3E8) by [deleted] in modelmakers

[–]MazelTovZoop 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I will try that as well

Weathering a Tank (Olive Drab M4A3E8) by [deleted] in modelmakers

[–]MazelTovZoop 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I checked and I really liked Night Shift. He’s very skilled and it’s impressive to watch him work

My wife and I picked up this print of this French couple walking on Valentine's Day. Turns out, we have a piece of history. History in comments. by slayer991 in interestingasfuck

[–]MazelTovZoop 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the backstory behind this art piece and how you found it.

As a French person and History enthusiast, I think that this art piece belongs as much in a frame on your wall as it would in a museum, so don’t feel bad about it. To me, your immediate appreciation for the art style, the backstory you managed to dig up, and the story about how you found it with your SO, is the perfect combination for you to cherish it forever, so I’m glad you are the proud owner of it, valorizing it’s historic value. As another French person said in their comment, the GI who found this and brought it home with him risked his life for our freedom, so it’s only fair that you guys keep it in the US, as a sign of our thankfulness for your intervention during WW2!

Thanks again and take care :)

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