How did Britain & France respond to the invasions in ww2

Answer 1

Britain and France responded to the invasions in World War II in different ways.

Following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany. However, they did not take any immediate military action to support Poland, leading to criticism of their lack of action known as the "Phony War" or "Sitzkrieg."

In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. Both Britain and France sent troops to assist Norway. However, they were defeated by the German forces, leading to the fall of Norway and the subsequent resignation of the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain.

In May 1940, Germany launched a massive invasion of France through the Ardennes Forest, bypassing the heavily fortified Maginot Line. This invasion caught the Allied forces by surprise, resulting in the rapid collapse of France. The French government surrendered to Germany on June 22, 1940.

In response to the fall of France, Britain continued the fight against Germany under the leadership of Winston Churchill. Despite being left isolated, Britain refused to surrender and prepared to defend itself against a possible German invasion. The British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk, France, in June 1940, saving a significant number of troops and boosting morale.

Britain also reached out to other nations, such as the United States and the Soviet Union, for support against Germany. They signed the Atlantic Charter with the US in 1941, outlining their joint war aims and collective security against Axis aggression.

France, on the other hand, became occupied by Germany and was divided into two parts: the German-occupied zone in the north and west, and the collaborationist Vichy regime in the south, which maintained a degree of autonomy under German control.

Overall, both Britain and France initially struggled to respond effectively to the German invasions in World War II. While France fell to Nazi Germany, Britain stood alone and continued the fight against the Axis powers, eventually becoming a key player in the Allied victory.