Figure 1.--Neither the British or French were about to launch another War. Leaders and the public just could not understand how another major conflict could occur. The very idea to many was still unthinkable in stark contrast to Hitler's and the NAZI mindset. The British and French were willing to invade or bomb Germany. The British and French were unwilling to risk the casualties that might come with offensive operations. The memory of the enormous World War I casualties were still strong. So while the Panzers smashed through Poland and the Luftwaffe bombed Polisgh cities, the Allies in the West did next to nothing. The press caption here read, "'Kit inspection' fot the 'troops': A real soldier goes through the formalities of 'kit inspection' of 'Sergeant' Peter Rawkings (right) and 'Private'Arthur Tape alongside a sandbag barricade in the streets of London. Exact replicas of service uniforms were sold for children in London stores and are in great demand." The photograph waa taken December 11, 1939.

The British and French expected a disaster after they declared war. They thought that Hitler would order the Luftwaffee to bomb British and French cities. One activity that did occur was that sand bags were piled up arond major buioldings in the cities, esoecially London and Paris. This did not occur in Berlin. Göring assured Hitler that the Allies would not be able to bomb Berlin. And the Allies believed that, as in World War I, another huge German Army would again invade Belgium and France. This did not materialize. The successful NAZI conquest of Poland, however, was followed by inactivity in the West. The Germans were at first fully concentated on Poland with only minimal forces deployed defensively in the West. Hitler calculated correctly thtat there would be no major Allied military response. Neither the British or French were about to launch another War. Leaders and the public just could not understand how another major conflict could occur. The very idea to many was still unthinkable in stark contrast to Hitler's and the NAZI mindset. The British and French were willing to invade or bomb Germany. The British and French were unwilling to risk the casualties that might come with offensive operations. The memory of the enormous World War I casualties were still strong. So while the Panzers smashed through Poland and the Luftwaffe bombed Polisgh cities, the Allies in the West did next to nothing. The term 'Phoney War' was reportedly coined by Idaho Senator William Borah. Borah had helped block American ratification of the Versailles Treaty after World War I. This and other actions had earned him the name, 'the Great Opposer'. He was in 1939 one of the leading Republican Isolationists resisting President Roosevelt's efforts to aid the Allies. Winston Churchill who was recalled to the Government as First Lord of the Admiralty termed it the ‘Twilight War’. The German term was ‘Sitzkrieg’ – 'sitting down war'. These terms were widely adopted by the press.

Created: 7:19 AM 1/8/2014
Last updated: 7:19 AM 1/8/2014