History of Europe

Why did the French think they were safe Germany?

The French did not feel safe at all from Germany. After a series of humiliating losses in past wars with Prussia (which would later dominate most of Germany), France lost the province of Alsace-Lorraine from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Additionally, Germany began a rapid military buildup. French military leaders knew they were vastly outnumbered and outgunned and expected war to break out between 1917-1920; thus, they began the construction of strong defenses on their border as Germany did as well.