The Collapse Of The Third Republic Author:William L. Shirer On June 17,1940, William L. Shirer stood in the streets of Paris and watched the unending flow of gray German uniforms along its boulevards. In just six weeks, total military defeat had come to one of the world's oldest, greatest and most civilized powers - the second mightiest empire on the earth and the possessor of one of the finestmilitary m... more »achines ever assembled. The Collapse Of The Third Republic is the stunning re-creation of one of the major tradegies of our time-a tragedy that need never have happened.« less