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Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II
“You are about to play a personal part in pushing the Germans out of France. Whatever part you take—rifleman, hospital orderly, mechanic, pilot, clerk, gunner, truck driver—you will be an essential factor in a great effort.”
As American soldiers fanned out from their beachhead in Normandy in June of 1944 and began the liberation of France, every soldier carried that reminder in his kit. A compact trove of knowledge and reassurance, Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II was issued to soldiers just before they embarked for France to help them understand both why they were going and what they’d find when they got there. After lying unseen in Army archives for decades, this remarkable guide is now available in a new facsimile edition that reproduces the full text and illustrations of the original along with a new introduction by Rick Atkinson setting the book in context.
Written in a straightforward, personal tone, the pamphlet is equal parts guidebook, cultural snapshot, and propaganda piece. A central aim is to dispel any prejudices American soldiers may have about the French—especially relating to their quick capitulation in 1940. Warning soldiers that the defeat “is a raw spot which the Nazis have been riding” since the occupation began, Instructions is careful to highlight France’s long historical role as a major U.S. ally. Following that is a brief, fascinating sketch of the French character (“The French are mentally quick;” “Rich or poor, they are economical”) and stark reminders of the deprivation the French have endured under occupation. Yet an air of reassuring confidence pervades the final section of the pamphlet, which reads like a straightforward tourists’ guide to Paris and the provinces—like a promise of better days to come once the soldiers complete their mission.
Written by anonymous War Department staffers to meet the urgent needs of the moment, with no thought of its historical value, Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II nevertheless brings to vivid life the closing years of World War II—when optimism was growing, but a long, demanding road still lay ahead.
As American soldiers fanned out from their beachhead in Normandy in June of 1944 and began the liberation of France, every soldier carried that reminder in his kit. A compact trove of knowledge and reassurance, Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II was issued to soldiers just before they embarked for France to help them understand both why they were going and what they’d find when they got there. After lying unseen in Army archives for decades, this remarkable guide is now available in a new facsimile edition that reproduces the full text and illustrations of the original along with a new introduction by Rick Atkinson setting the book in context.
Written in a straightforward, personal tone, the pamphlet is equal parts guidebook, cultural snapshot, and propaganda piece. A central aim is to dispel any prejudices American soldiers may have about the French—especially relating to their quick capitulation in 1940. Warning soldiers that the defeat “is a raw spot which the Nazis have been riding” since the occupation began, Instructions is careful to highlight France’s long historical role as a major U.S. ally. Following that is a brief, fascinating sketch of the French character (“The French are mentally quick;” “Rich or poor, they are economical”) and stark reminders of the deprivation the French have endured under occupation. Yet an air of reassuring confidence pervades the final section of the pamphlet, which reads like a straightforward tourists’ guide to Paris and the provinces—like a promise of better days to come once the soldiers complete their mission.
Written by anonymous War Department staffers to meet the urgent needs of the moment, with no thought of its historical value, Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II nevertheless brings to vivid life the closing years of World War II—when optimism was growing, but a long, demanding road still lay ahead.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2007
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About the author
U.S. Department of the Army
12.1k books136 followersThe Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)
The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)
The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 4, 2011
Priceless. Part Boy Scout Handbook, part etiquette guide, tour book, sex ed pamphlet, and 100% propaganda. All of this written in a man-to-man confidential tone, as if wisdom from a kindly uncle or athletic coach. It's the flip side of Lord of the Flies; how to prevent American men from devolving into utter animals the minute they find themselves away from home. Some of the best things in the book are the folksy epigrams that conclude a number of the paragraphs, such as "French women deserve the right kind of attention." This book is not only an amusing curiosity; it's a fascinating as a glimpse into American social engineering during the Second World War.
September 13, 2011
Not only is this a fascinating period piece, but ... LUDWIG BEMELMANS DREW THE ILLUSTRATIONS!!!
Yes, the beloved author/illustrator of the "Madeline" books did uncredited work for this US Dept. of the Army book, which was issued to American servicemen headed for France.
He is not named anywhere in the book, but it's clearly his work.
I've done a careful analysis of why on my art blog, Confessions of a Postmodern Pre-Raphaelite.
Yes, the beloved author/illustrator of the "Madeline" books did uncredited work for this US Dept. of the Army book, which was issued to American servicemen headed for France.
He is not named anywhere in the book, but it's clearly his work.
I've done a careful analysis of why on my art blog, Confessions of a Postmodern Pre-Raphaelite.
February 17, 2020
I love this little booklets written to help prepare men who had never left home for helping and serving the people of France. Some things are funny: "Normandy looks like Ohio." But so many things were so kind in acquainting them with a short history of the country and what life was like under Nazi occupation. "No belittling...be generous..."
December 4, 2011
An interesting read. The style of writing is very accessible: short sentences, easy to read, well designed for its everyman audience of GIs waiting to go into Europe on D-Day. Some of it was perhaps a little patronising, but generally it seemed to be a good attempt, at very short notice, to write a guide to France for US soldiers. The concern for the reputation of the troops and uncertainty as to the current conditions in France come across loud and clear, as does worry about effect of the influx of US servicemen's cash on the post-Nazi French economy.
December 25, 2011
Got this free from University of Chicago Press's monthly free ebooks. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/f...
Very interesting, the combination of knowledge of the country with the ever-present uncertainty about what the actual situation might be. A lot of it boils down to reminding everyone to use common sense, which is necessary no matter where you are. The introduction is well worth the read too.
Very interesting, the combination of knowledge of the country with the ever-present uncertainty about what the actual situation might be. A lot of it boils down to reminding everyone to use common sense, which is necessary no matter where you are. The introduction is well worth the read too.
August 13, 2023
When we prepare for a trip to France (my mother was French and we visit family), I pull out our fun language books to prep my language muscles (like
Advanced French for Exceptional Cats
and
Merde! The REAL French You Were Never Taught at School
). And I might also pull out a long-neglected French culture or history book to peruse. Such was this volume of Instructions for American Servicemen in France during World War II which I had bought in 2008. Considering I’m the daughter of a Parisienne and a U.S. Army Air Corps corporal stationed in France after the war, I’m surprised I hadn’t read this brief and fascinating book before. The U.S. Army created guides like these on the 13 Nazi-occupied countries that American servicemen were to save – the first being France as the D-Day invasion would aim at the French coast. I hope to read others like this remarkable book.
On a first skim, one may chuckle at the Frenchified illustrations, the generalizations about the French (many of which the French would say themselves are spot on), and the phrases we now consider charming and folksy, like “hard-boiled dame,” “pep talk,” “swank hotels,” being a “cut-up.”
But the guides are dead serious in their tone, advice, and cautions, from the day-to-day to the goal of staying alive. How to buy a train ticket or read a hotel bill. Here’s a walking tour of Paris. Show respect for the people and culture, and express gratitude for any help, especially if you are billeted with a French family. Have compassion! Understand what they have gone through under Nazi occupation. Don’t share ANY military information – not because the French are untrustworthy but because the Gestapo has learned how to get information from the occupied peoples. Remember that France helped us during our American Revolution. Don’t get involved with prostitutes: they might be spies and might carry disease. What to consider if you fall in love and want to marry a French girl.
And in bold at the end: “France has been plundered by the Nazis to such an extent that the people are deprived of even the bare necessities of life. Don’t make their plight more difficult by buying things that they so desperately need.”
A lot to think about after such a brief read.
On a first skim, one may chuckle at the Frenchified illustrations, the generalizations about the French (many of which the French would say themselves are spot on), and the phrases we now consider charming and folksy, like “hard-boiled dame,” “pep talk,” “swank hotels,” being a “cut-up.”
But the guides are dead serious in their tone, advice, and cautions, from the day-to-day to the goal of staying alive. How to buy a train ticket or read a hotel bill. Here’s a walking tour of Paris. Show respect for the people and culture, and express gratitude for any help, especially if you are billeted with a French family. Have compassion! Understand what they have gone through under Nazi occupation. Don’t share ANY military information – not because the French are untrustworthy but because the Gestapo has learned how to get information from the occupied peoples. Remember that France helped us during our American Revolution. Don’t get involved with prostitutes: they might be spies and might carry disease. What to consider if you fall in love and want to marry a French girl.
And in bold at the end: “France has been plundered by the Nazis to such an extent that the people are deprived of even the bare necessities of life. Don’t make their plight more difficult by buying things that they so desperately need.”
A lot to think about after such a brief read.
April 11, 2024
Context please
I quite enjoyed this, but it needed context. How about an introduction that describes how these guides were created and distributed? It would have made it much more enjoyable. As this was an Audible Studios production, I’m surprised they didn’t think of that. A good listen regardless…. though why they taught service men how to say string beans in French is beyond me. Otherwise, the state of the French people at this point in time was well described and I liked how the work was so respectful of the French culture.
I listened to the Audible audiobook.
I quite enjoyed this, but it needed context. How about an introduction that describes how these guides were created and distributed? It would have made it much more enjoyable. As this was an Audible Studios production, I’m surprised they didn’t think of that. A good listen regardless…. though why they taught service men how to say string beans in French is beyond me. Otherwise, the state of the French people at this point in time was well described and I liked how the work was so respectful of the French culture.
I listened to the Audible audiobook.
January 23, 2026
This is a fascinating historical document. It was prepared in 1944 and distributed to all GIs serving in France. It was prepared to remind soldiers to not be the “ugly American”. It offers general geographical information, some historical background, and how to act. Health is a major emphasis. Significant depth is also given to tipping when on leave. It also contains useful appendices such as the metric system and a French vocabulary.
June 9, 2024
Much of it is still good advice for travelers
Wish I’d had the vocabulary list before my first trip to France, especially the pronunciation; most of it was still valid 50 years later.
Wish I’d had the vocabulary list before my first trip to France, especially the pronunciation; most of it was still valid 50 years later.
December 24, 2021
« We are friends of the French and they are friends of ours »
May 6, 2024
Good idea to share such information.
August 24, 2013
mini read free E-book UofCpress
March 15, 2018
Funny and considerate towards the French.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews