rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-william-shirer-pdf

Chapter 19SITZKRIEG IN THEWESTNothing much had happened there. Hardly a shot had been fired. The Germanman in the street was beginning to call it the ”sit-down war” – Sitzkrieg. Inthe West it would soon be dubbed the ”phony war.” Here was ”the strongestarmy in the world [the French],” as the British General J. F. C. Fuller wouldput it, ”facing no more than twenty-six [German] divisions, sitting still andsheltering behind steel and concrete while a quixotically valiant ally was beingexterminated!” 742Were the Germans surprised? Hardly. In Haider’s very first diary entry,that of August 14, the Chief of the Army General Staff had composed a detailedestimate of the situation in the West if Germany attacked Poland. He considereda French offensive ”not very likely.” He was sure that France would not send itsarmy through Belgium ”against Belgian wishes.” His conclusion was that theFrench would remain on the defensive. On September 7, with the Polish Armyalready doomed, Haider, as has been noted, was already occupied with plans totransfer German divisions to the west.That evening he noted down the results of a conference which Brauchitschhad had during the afternoon with Hitler.Operation in the West not yet clear. Some indications that there isno real intention of waging a war . . . French cabinet lacks heroiccaliber. Also from Britain first hints of sobering reflection.Two days later Hitler issued Directive No. 3 for the Conduct of the War,ordering arrangements to be made for Army and Air Force units to be sent fromPoland to the west. But not necessarily to fight. ”Even after the irresoluteopening of hostilities by Great Britain . . . and France my express command,”the directive laid it down, ”must be obtained in each of the following cases:Every time our ground forces [or] . . . one of our planes cross the westernborders; [and] for every air attack on Britain.” 743What had France and Britain promised Poland to do in case she were attacked?The British guarantee was general. But the French was specific. Itwas laid down in the Franco-Polish Military Convention of May 19, 1939. In569