Why did germany invade france?

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler claimed the massive invasion was a defensive action, but Britain and France were not convinced. On September 3, they declared war on Germany, initiating World War II. To Hitler, the conquest of Poland would bring Lebensraum, or “living space,” for the German people. read more

France and Germany were at war, France’s ally Britain had troops in France, and neither ally had aggressively attacked Germany. The Nazis were the aggressors. Hitler wanted to reverse the judgment of Versailles. The Allies were expecting a WW1 replay, but Hitler had chosen von Manstein’s plan and triumphed. read more

France did not invade Germany in 1939, because it wanted British lives to be at risk too and because of hopes that a blockade might force a German surrender without a bloodbath. The French and British also believed that they were militarily superior, which guaranteed victory. read more

On the afternoon of this day in 1914, two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declares war on France, moving ahead with a long-held strategy, conceived by the former chief of staff of the German army, Alfred von Schlieffen, for a two-front war against France and Russia. read more