What was France's perspective of World War 1?

Initially it was Plan 17. The French believed that if they drove straight into Germany through Alsace and Lorraine, using the fighting spirit "elan" of their soldiers and not relying on technology, they would quickly defeat the Germans. Losses on both sides were heavy and their assault quickly, like elsewhere on the western front, slowed down eventually resorting to trench warfare. After that, it was to not lose. Heavy reparations for Germany Taking Germany's colonies