I think it's a joke based on the fact that was a relatively rich county in the 20th Century and had a poor record on self-defence. France was actually consider

I think it's a joke based on the fact that was a relatively rich county in the 20th Century and had a poor record on self-defence. France was actually considered to have the strongest military in Europe in the late 1930's, but it didn't pan out for them (bad management).