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and a reserve army of soldiers.
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Empire had become a popular part
-
of popular culture, of daily life,
-
and even a career for many French men and women.
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In short, empire had become a fundamental part of
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the national identity and in some ways the national hubris
-
then sweeping through France, not only France
-
but the rest of Europe as well.
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Just as many in France
-
cheered at the declaration of war on Germany in 1914,
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with no idea of what was to come,
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few French people in 1914 could see any reason to think