War Aims of Britain and France In 1939-1940 (state, years, attack)
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The UK and France declared war because of Poland. How serious do you want it? The RN was attacking German ships and blockading Germany from day one. There was even some air raids on Germany.
Does anyone know if Britain and France ever formulated a list of their war aims during World War II in 1939-1940 (before the fall of France), similar to Germany's World War I Septemberprogramm (sp?)? If so, then what exactly were Britain's and France's war aims in 1939-1940 (in terms of territorial changes/territorial gains, the post-war peace, reparations, et cetera)?
Their war aims were essentially to not lose. And look where it got them.
So in essence, the French/British did nothing. They sat back and let the
Poles fend for themselves.
Well the history books show the Anglo-Polish alliance where Britain would offer mutual assistance if Poland was attacked by a 'European power' and vice versa. Wish I was a fly on the wall when they wrote up that British/Polish 'guarantee' of assistance. No doubt 'diplomatic' language affected British approach to aiding Poland at the time. Interesting thing was that even attacked by the Soviets after Germany (a real pounding on to say the least) the Poles wouldn't get troops because the attacker was not deemed a 'European' power according to the writeup. So Poland was left to go it alone. Not sure if she was angry but one has to admit they got faked out when they signed that docment. I don't think it was what they really bargained for.
The UK and France assured Poland and Romania That of they are attacked they will attack the attacking country. They did just that. They declared war on Germany. How serious do you want it?
^
Yes, that's is true. But they as well as the French did not help militarily. Thus Poland was destroyed and annihilated. Really
British and French policy right up to the invasion of Poland was 'reflexive' not based on initiative in countering German interests. That no doubt was courtesy of WWI. That war especially taught Britain to be wary of 'secuirty' arrangements when it came to happenings on the continent.
And also it could be said that perhaps a drive into the Ruhr by Britain and France could have given Hitler something to think about as he was destroying Poland. But it didn't occur and Poland died a pretty bad death.
^
Yes, that's is true. But they as well as the French did not help militarily. Thus Poland was destroyed and annihilated. Really
British and French policy right up to the invasion of Poland was 'reflexive' not based on initiative in countering German interests. That no doubt was courtesy of WWI. That war especially taught Britain to be wary of 'secuirty' arrangements when it came to happenings on the continent.
And also it could be said that perhaps a drive into the Ruhr by Britain and France could have given Hitler something to think about as he was destroying Poland. But it didn't occur and Poland died a pretty bad death.
The French and British could not help as Germany and the USSR moved into Poland as they were well away from Poland. They could not help via the sea or on land. Bombers could not reach Poland and who were they to bomb in a fast moving army? The French could have done more on the ground - Few British forces were in France, if at all. The British immediately set up the blockade of Germany and fought at sea.
3/4 Sep 1939 - 10 Whitley bombers of Nos. 51 and 58 Sqns carry out the first RAF raid over Germany - 10 Whitley bombers of Nos. 51 and 58 Sqns carry out the first RAF raid over Germany.
4 Sep 1939 - The RAF records its first losses of the war when five Wellingtons of No. 9 Sqn are shot down during a raid on German warships in the Elbe estuary.
10 Sep 1939 - The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), consisting of some 158,000 men, leaves for France. Canada joins the list of Commonwealth countries to declare war against Germany.
17 Sep 1939 - Soviet troops enter Poland. The aircraft carrier HMS Courageous is torpedoed by a German U-boat off the south-west coast of Iceland.
20 Sep 1939 - A Fairey Battle, claims the first RAF victory of the war after shooting down a German Bf 109 during a patrol near Aachen.
27 Sep 1939 - After an intense struggle against German and Soviet forces, Poland finally surrenders.
25 Oct 1939 - First flight of the Handley-Page Halifax four-engined bomber. In conjunction with the Lancaster, it forms the mainstay of the RAF Bomber Command offensive in later years.
11 Oct 1939 - Announcement of the Empire Air Training Scheme, which provides for training of aircrew throughout Commonwealth countries. By the end of the war some 88,000 aircrew had been trained in Britain and the Empire.
The UK and France assured Poland and Romania That of they are attacked they will attack the attacking country. They did just that. They declared war on Germany. How serious do you want it?
You are really clueless. Declaring war and attacking are two different things. The Brits declared war, but then sat on their thumbs. They never attacked or protected Poland. They let Poland fall into Nazi hands.
The Allies could have launched an invasion of Germany in response to German aggression in Poland. That would have been serious.
The Brits defeated the Germans who invaded Poland. That is easy to grasp.
You actually believe that? The Brits were at best 1/5th responsible for defeating Germany years later. Most of the German defeat was due to the Soviets militarily and the Americans economically. The British never would have landed on Continental Europe again had it not been for those two elements. At the time of the actual German invasion, the Brits did nothing militarily to assist Poland. They sat on their hands while Hitler and Stalin carved up Poland. Between 1939 and 1940, the Brits still did nothing.
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