Verdun tells a different tale.

Naturally, I am never averse to criticising the French - it is a totally reasonable, well-merited, national pastime. But lines have to be drawn in sand.
The non-stop jokes these days, which assail us from every quarter, about French military cowardice are downright unfair.
Consider Verdun. 162,308 dead in the making of their essential victory on behalf of 'the good guys' in 1916.