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The Phony War, or in Winston Churchill 's words the '''Twilight War''', was a phase in early World War II marked by few military operations in Continental Europe , in the months following the German Invasion Of Poland . Although the great Powers of Europe had Declared War on one another, neither side had yet committed to launching a significant attack, thus there was relatively little fighting. The term has cognates in many other languages, notably the German '''''Sitzkrieg''''' ("sitting war," a Pun on '' Blitzkrieg ''), the French '''''drôle de guerre''' ("funny war" or "strange war")'' and the Polish '''''dziwna wojna''''' ("strange war"). In Britain the period was even referred to as the "'''Bore War'''" (a pun on " Boer War "). While most of the German army was fighting against Poland, a much smaller German force manned the fortified defensive lines along the French border ( Westwall ). At the Maginot Line on the other side of the border, British and French troops stood facing them, but there were only some local skirmishes. The British Royal Air Force dropped propaganda leaflets on Germany and the first Canadian troops stepped ashore in Britain, while western Europe was in a strange calm for seven months. Meanwhile, the opposing nations clashed in the Norwegian Campaign . The United States , technically neutral in the war effort, contributed to the Western Allies by discounted sales or gifts of military equipment and supplies. German efforts to interdict this trade at sea ignited the Second Battle Of The Atlantic . DATES Given dates for the start and end of the phase may vary somewhat. In France the period from the official declaration of war on Germany on September 3 until the German invasion of the Benelux and France is known as ''drôle de guerre'' ("funny war"). This term was coined by the French journalist Roland Dorgelès who was reporting about the military inactivity on the Franco-German front. In Poland, Which Felt Betrayed by her western allies, the term ''dziwna wojna'' ("strange war") is used for the period after all offensive operations on the Western Front were halted on September 12 , 1939 . In English works October 6 may be referred to, since on that day organized Polish resistance was given up, ending the September Campaign . The ''Phony War'' is usually held to have lasted until Nazi Germany 's assault on The Netherlands , Belgium and Luxembourg on May 10 , 1940 . WINTER WAR A notable event during the Phony War is the Winter War , which started with the Soviet Union 's assault on Finland on November 30 , 1939 . Public opinion, particularly in France and Britain , found it easy to side emotionally with democratic Finland, and demanded from their governments effective actions in support of "the brave Finns" against the incomparably larger aggressor, the Soviet Union , particularly since the Finns' defence seemed so much more successful than that of the Poles during the September Campaign . As a consequence, the Soviet Union was excluded from the League Of Nations , and a proposed Franco-British expedition to northern Scandinavia was much debated. On March 20 , after the Winter War had ended, Édouard Daladier resigned as Prime Minister in France, due to his failure to aid Finland's defense. GERMAN INVASION OF DENMARK AND NORWAY The open discussions on an Allied expedition to northern Scandinavia , also without consent of the neutral Scandinavian countries, and the Altmark Incident on February 16 th, when (in the Germans' view) the British Royal Navy demonstrated grave disrespect for Norway 's Neutrality , alarmed the Kriegsmarine and gave strong arguments for a German securing of the Norwegian coast, codenamed '' Weserübung .'' The German occupation of Denmark and Norway commenced on April 9 . The Royal Navy was nearby and on April 10 th the First Battle Of Narvik resulted in the sinking of two German and two British Destroyer s. On April 15 – 16 Allied troops were landed in Norway, but within two weeks most of Norway was in German hands — and the Allied troops were evacuated from southern Norway. FALL OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT Main article: The debacle of the Allied Campaign In Norway , which actually was an offspring of the never-realised plans to aid Finland , forced A Famous Debate in the House Of Commons during which the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was under constant attack. A nominal Vote Of Confidence in his Government was won by 281 to 200, but many of Chamberlain's supporters had voted against him whilst others had abstained. The humiliated Chamberlain found it impossible to continue to lead a National Government or to form a government of national unity (in Britain often called a " Coalition Government ", to distinguish it from Chamberlain's existing national government) around him. On May 10 Chamberlain resigned his premiership whilst retaining his leadership of the Conservative Party. The King, George VI , appointed Winston Churchill , who had been a consistent opponent of Chamberlain's policy of Appeasement , as his successor and Churchill formed a new Coalition Government that included members of the Conservative Party , the Labour Party and the Liberal Party as well as several ministers from a non-political background. Later that day, German troops marched into Belgium , the Netherlands and Luxembourg . The Phony War was over. OTHER MILITARY EVENTS DURING THE PHONY WAR Most other major actions during the Phony War were at sea, including the Second Battle Of The Atlantic fought throughout the Phony War. Other notable events among these were the following:
The warring air forces also showed some activity in that period, running reconnaissance flights and several minor bombing raids during this period. The Royal Air Force also conducted a large number of combined reconnaissance and Propaganda Leaflet flights over Germany. These leaflet flights were jokingly termed "Bomphlet raids" or "Confetti War" in the British press. SEE ALSO
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