 | Rock of Contention: Free French and Americans at War in New Caledonia, 1940-1945 Subjects: France combattante; World War 1939-1945 -- New Caledonia; United States -- Foreign relations -- France; France -- Foreign relations -- United States; New Caledonia -- History -- 20th century; What went wrong in Free French relations with Americans during World War Two? Two peoples, presumably sharing a common cause in a war to defeat the axis powers, often found themselves locked in bitter disputes that exposed fundamental differences in outlook and intentions, creating a profound misunderstanding or mésentente that was a major source of Franco-American conflict during the war and has persisted since then. The site for this dispute was the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia. By documenting carefully French policy toward the American presence in New Caledonia during the war, the author demonstrates the existence of a deep-seated suspicion, fear, even paranoia about the Americans that colored almost every phase of Free French policy. Revising traditional views, the author lays bare the roots of the antagonism, which stem from perceptions and biases. Kim Munholland (1934-2020) received his Ph. D. from Princeton University and was a member of the history faculty at the University of Minnesota where he has taught Modern European and French History. Kim Munholland (1934-2020) received his Ph. D. from Princeton University and was a member of the history faculty at the University of Minnesota where he has taught Modern European and French History. |
