What was the Phoney War ww2?

The term ‘phoney war’ refers to the period at the beginning of WWII between September 1939 and April 1940 when there was little fighting. It was brought to an abrupt end by the German invasion of Norway in April 1940. The term is thought to have been coined by an American Senator called Borah.

How would you describe the phony war?

The term was coined by journalists to derisively describe the six-month period (October 1939–March 1940) during which no land operations were undertaken by the Allies or the Germans after the German conquest of Poland in September 1939.

Why is it called the phony war?

THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE 1939 Although there was some action at sea, there was little activity on land and, surprisingly to many, in the air. With little in the way of actual fighting, this sense of unreality earned this period the nickname of the ‘Phoney War’.

What role did the phony war play in Hitler’s strategy?

They created elaborate plans for numerous large-scale operations designed to cripple the German war effort. These included opening an Anglo-French front in the Balkans, invading Norway to seize control of Germany’s main source of iron ore and a strike against the Soviet Union, to cut off its supply of oil to Germany.

What was the Phony War in WW2?

(Show more) Phony War, (1939–40) a name for the early months of World War II, marked by no major hostilities. The term was coined by journalists to derisively describe the six-month period (October 1939–March 1940) during which no land operations were undertaken by the Allies or the Germans after the German conquest of Poland in September 1939.

What was the Phoney War called?

The Phoney War was also referred to as the “Twilight War” (by Winston Churchill) and as the Sitzkrieg (“the sitting war”: a word play on blitzkrieg created by the British press). In French, it is referred to as the drôle de guerre (“funny” or “strange” war).

What was the Phoney period in WW2?

The Phoney period began with the declaration of war by Great Britain and France against Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939, and ended with the German attack on France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940.

What happened to the British Army during the Phony War?

Their country was overrun by the German army from the west and the Soviet army from the east. Within weeks, the nation was fully occupied, the government on the run, and large parts of the army were fleeing south across the border, looking to continue the fight from abroad. A British 8-inch howitzer near the German border during the Phony War