Phoney War facts for kids
The Phoney War was a strange period during World War II. It was the time between September 1939, after Poland was defeated, and May 1940, before France was invaded. People called it "Phoney" because there wasn't much fighting on land in Europe.
Even though Britain and France had declared war on Germany, and had military alliances with Poland, things were mostly quiet. The Royal Air Force dropped leaflets over Germany, not bombs. Meanwhile, Canadian soldiers started arriving in Britain to prepare for future battles.
However, the war was very real at sea. German submarines began sinking many ships belonging to the Allies (Britain and France). This marked the start of the long and dangerous Battle of the Atlantic.
The War Heats Up
The quiet period ended in April 1940. Germany launched invasions of Denmark and Norway. This meant the two sides started fighting actively again. Britain and France quickly needed more weapons and supplies. They began buying them from American companies. The American government also helped by selling weapons at lower prices. Later, the U.S. even started a program called Lend-Lease, which allowed them to lend or lease military equipment to their allies.
Images for kids
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A British 8-inch howitzer near the German border during the Phoney War.
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A French soldier outside a Reichskolonialbund office in Lauterbach during the Saar Offensive.
See also
In Spanish: Guerra de broma para niños
