WW2 Phony War 39/40

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I read somewhere and heard that the begining of WW2 was called "The Phony War" that only ended when Germany invaded France and with the Battle of Britain.

I thought this would be a good topic for a thread.

 

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Originally posted by Falcão
I read somewhere and heard that the begining of WW2 was called "The Phony War" that only ended when Germany invaded France and with the Battle of Britain.

I thought this would be a good topic for a thread.

Quite unfair of the Allies to label it "phony" IMO. During the period in question (Sep 1939 to May 1940) Poland, Finland, Denmark and Norway suffered invasion and/or occupation. Hardly phony for them.

 

[Crazy_Ivan80]

that's because you can't apply 'Phony War' to any other part of the war than the period of 39/40 at the Maginot-Line (I think) in France.
The term doesn't deal with Norway or any other country

 

[v. Berlichingen]

I guess you are referring to the 'Drôle de guerre', the time between the defeat of Poland, and the beginning of the invasion of Denmark and Norway. During that time, while there were some small battles at sea, the border between Germany and France was next to peaceful, i. e. no border skirmishes except for a very few at the border of the Saarland (IIRC), no bombarding of enemy troops by artillery/aircraft, even no true attempt to sink freight barges on the Rhine.
During that time, quite some people thought that the war was actually evolving into an 'armed peace', combined with economical warfare, where France and UK were trying to pressure/starve Germany into an armistice by cutting off maritime trade, while the Germans were trying the same, whilst building an Eastern Europe Empire.
There were numerous rumours of secret negotiations between the Allies and Germany, and the will to fight against Germany seemed to slowly dwindle with the Allies.

 

[unmerged(3865)]

This does bring up the "what if" topic of if the French had attacked Germany while Germany was busy in the East with Poland. From what I have read the French units were not up to an offensive. Still, it could have bought time for the west to get better prepared.

 

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This what if needs a French capacity (or at least a notion thereof) to attack, which is very speculative.

 

[Orm]

Wasn't this period called the 'sitzkrieg' in Germany? I think I read that somewhere, not sure though...

 

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Originally posted by beowulf
Wasn't this period called the 'sitzkrieg' in Germany? I think I read that somewhere, not sure though...

It makes sense, sitz must be sit, so i deduct it is "Sitten War".
I believe it is he same period...

 

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Originally posted by beowulf
Wasn't this period called the 'sitzkrieg' in Germany? I think I read that somewhere, not sure though...

You are allowed to be sure as you're 100% correct. It was indeed called 'Sitzkrieg'.

 

[pithorr]

We have already discussed that in this thread:
http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15670&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
I'm too tired to start it again with Agelastus, Sean and Sir Einaque...

 

[unmerged(6116)]

Originally posted by pithorr
We have already discussed that in this thread:
http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15670&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
I'm too tired to start it again with Agelastus, Sean and Sir Einaque...

I didn't see it anywhere and i can't keep track of all the threads, so i thaught it was a good one to post.
BTW Who are we?And there aren't only Agelastus,Sean and Sir Einaque to talk about it...
If you're tired , well give it a rest...
And btw the title was "the begining of ww2" not "Phony war".

 

[pithorr]

Originally posted by Falcão
I didn't see it anywhere and i can't keep track of all the threads, so i thaught it was a good one to post.
BTW Who are we?And there aren't only Agelastus,Sean and Sir Einaque to talk about it...
If you're tired , well give it a rest...
And btw the title was "the begining of ww2" not "Phony war".

Right, however it refers to almost the same matter if you look over that thread...
Well, I'm tired indeed but I would appreciate your point of view exactly if I find you as any support against their position...

 

[unmerged(2833)]

Oh no, not this discussion again...

 

[unmerged(6116)]

Originally posted by pithorr


Right, however it refers to almost the same matter if you look over that thread...
Well, I'm tired indeed but I would appreciate your point of view exactly if I find you as any support against their position...

I didn't say i agreed with the term "phony war"...
For me the war started even before Poland been invaded, and the world watched it standing still, thought it declared war on Germany.
The term applies to the relative passiveness of the allies, when other countries were already subjugated by the axis.
It was Phony to some, not to those who have been invaded and were fighting for their homeland.
IMO I believe in some extent that if Germany had only invaded Poland and Czcheslovakia and other eastern countries, the allies would not intervine like they did when they felt menaced directly.

 

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Oh but there are other things to talk about, like the Franco-British plans for intervention in the Winter War, or their plans to bomb Baku from Syria...

 

[unmerged(598)]

Originally posted by pithorr
I'm too tired to start it again with Agelastus, Sean and Sir Einaque...

Thank God there is something we agree on

That discussion did have it's moments, but it was a very good one nonetheless.

 

[unmerged(6116)]

Did you arrive at any conclusion on that thread?

 

[pithorr]

Originally posted by Falcão
Did you arrive at any conclusion on that thread?

I don't think so. Parties remained at their points...