Introduction

France and Britain declared war on 3 September 1939, but preparations for conflict on the Franco-German border had been made since September 1939. On both sides of the border, civilians living in the 'red zone' were evacuated while mobilised soldiers moved to the front. The French military did not work in a vacuum. This chapter analyses external influences, such as the media. It includes radio broadcasts, newspapers and newsreels to understand how French soldiers interacted with the outside world. French historians working on the Second World War have often preferred the study of Free France or the Vichy Regime. Henri Hiegel has looked at life in the Moselle region while others researched local aspects of the Maginot Line or specific French units. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.