Phoney War

People of Warsaw in happy demonstration under British Embassy in Warsaw just after British declaration of state of war with Nazi Germany

The Phoney War was a name for the eight months during World War II from Poland being invaded in September 1939 to France being invaded in May 1940.

During that time, there were no major military operations in Europe. The United Kingdom and French declared war and a blockade against Nazi Germany. Germany did likewise, declaring war and blockade, beginning the Battle of the Atlantic. German submarines destroyed many British ships. The British Royal Air Force dropped propaganda leaflets on Germany, and Canadian troops began to arrive in Britain.

In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. Both sides began to fight each other strongly again. Britain and France needed many weapons quickly and so they began to buy them from American weapon companies. The Americans remained neutral but helped Britain and France by selling weapons cheaply and then by Lend-Lease of military equipment and supplies.