FV623 wrote; 'I disagree. You have to put your 1939 head on, not your 2005 head.'
Let's do that.
France had promised Poland military aid. They made a small demonstration over the Maginot Line. The Phoney War followed until Hitler attacked in the west.
Donitz was told by Hitler to establish his HQ at Swinemunde and deploy his U-Boats in the Baltic to prevent the escape of Polish destroyers. However, Hitler said, if Britain and France declared war, then Donitz should move to Wilhelmshaven and begin action against Britain. Only a few coastal U-Boats tried to intercept the Polish destroyers which got away to Britain.
French ships were left untouched. Donitz protested that neutral shipping was being sunk in the exclusion zone, but French shipping was immune. Hitler believed for a while that the French might not have their heart in the war and therefore did nothing against French shipping.
In 1914 Britain honoured its commitment to protect Belgian neutrality and despatched the BEF, which engaged the Germans at Mons to the derision of the Kaiser who called them contemptible.
In 1939 the British government had a reputation for keeping its word and its commitments. The PM was not a liar like Blair.
Poland rightly expected assistance, and acted accordingly. They were deceived. That was very 2005 but not 1939.
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