The phony war (sep 3, 1939 – may 10, 1940)
Description:
Shortly after the Polish invasion, Britain and France declare war on Germany (Surprising due to the efforts of France and Britain to avoid war- e.g remilitarisation of Rhineland). Little conflict actually occurred during this time.The BEF (39 000) and French army (3M) militarised the Maginot Line and the North of France, expecting an attack similar to that of WW1.
Mistakes
The Ardennes forest was deemed unsuitable for German attack due to the thick forest, so left less fortified with weaker, more unprepared forces.
Added to timeline:
Date:
sep 3, 1939
may 10, 1940
~ 8 months