Phoney War

E284

The Phoney War was the early phase of World War II (September 1939–April 1940) on the Western Front, marked by a lack of major military operations despite the formal state of war between the Allies and Germany.

Aliases (3)
  • Phony War ×3
  • Drôle de guerre ×1
  • World War II (early months) ×1

Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf historical event
military campaign phase
phase of World War II
alsoKnownAs Bore War
Drôle de guerre
Sitzkrieg
Twilight War
cause declaration of war by France on Germany
declaration of war by United Kingdom on Germany
characteristic aerial reconnaissance and minor air raids
limited skirmishes and patrols
mobilization and preparation by Allied forces
naval warfare in Atlantic and North Sea
propaganda and psychological warfare
conflict World War II
countryInvolved Australia
Canada
Czechoslovak government-in-exile
France
Germany
India
New Zealand
Poland
United Kingdom
describedBySource British wartime press
French wartime press
endDate 1940-05-10
followedBy Battle of France
German invasion of the Low Countries
hasCause German invasion of Poland
hasPartOf World War II
languageOfName English
location Atlantic Ocean
France
Germany
Maginot Line
North Sea
Siegfried Line
United Kingdom
notableEvent Altmark Incident
German U-boat campaign in the Atlantic
Saar Offensive
Winter War context for Allied planning
notableFor lack of major ground operations on Western Front
partOf European theatre of World War II
precededBy Invasion of Poland
result strategic stalemate on Western Front until May 1940
startDate 1939-09-03
theatre Western Front
timePeriod 20th century


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