Why’d he attack France?

France had a complex history with the USSR.

Officially, the French opposed the Bolsheviks in the 20's. But the French government was very unpopular with the French. Between 1920 and 1940 there were 17 French governments as various coalitions formed and collapsed to keep the French communists from participating in any government.

By the 1930's, the government had to acknowledge the reality that a significant minority of the French DID NOT and WOULD NOT perceive the Soviets as enemies, but rather as the continuation of the Revolution, and so shifted towards a policy of communist containment and a weak alliance with the USSR.

The whole of Europe was aware of France's situation. That of all the European countries, France was the most predisposed to fall to communism, and that the French government was weak because it was spending all its effort simply keeping the socialists out of power.

Why’d he attack France?

France had a complex history with the USSR.

Officially, the French opposed the Bolsheviks in the 20's. But the French government was very unpopular with the French. Between 1920 and 1940 there were 17 French governments as various coalitions formed and collapsed to keep the French communists from participating in any government.

By the 1930's, the government had to acknowledge the reality that a significant minority of the French DID NOT and WOULD NOT perceive the Soviets as enemies, but rather as the continuation of the Revolution, and so shifted towards a policy of Communist containment and a weak alliance with the USSR.

The whole of Europe was aware of France's situation. That of all the European countries, France was the most predisposed to fall to communism, and that the French government was weak because it was spending all its effort simply keeping the socialists out of power.

Why’d he attack France?

France had a complex history with the USSR.

Officially, the French opposed the Bolsheviks in the 20's. But the French government was very unpopular with the French. Between 1920 and 1940 there were 17 French governments as various coalitions formed and collapsed to keep the French communists from participating in any government.

By the 1930's, the French government had to acknowledge the reality that a significant minority of the French DID NOT and WOULD NOT perceive the Soviets as enemies, but rather as the continuation of the Revolution, and so shifted towards a policy of Communist containment and a weak alliance with the USSR.

The whole of Europe was aware of France's situation. That of all the European countries, France was the most predisposed to fall to communism, and that the French government was weak because it was spending all its effort simply keeping the socialists out of power.