What were the key reasons for Germany attacking France during WW2?

Answer 1

STUPIDITY.

One of my favorite topics. How Hitler lost World War Two (thankfully). Part of my 'Hitler was an Idiot' lecture. Hitler forgot what he wrote in Mein Kamp, though many argue it was Rudolph Hess who sifted through the mess & muddle of Hitler monologues and came up with 'Mein Kamp.' What Hitler spoke of in 'Mein Kamp' was the need for 'Living Room' and Hitler had a simple answer. The vast expance of Russia. Hitler justified his argument by claiming that Russians were inferior 'sub-humans,' and rose to power calling them 'Commies.'

There was a country between Germany and Russia. Poland. When Hitler attacked Poland their allies Britain & France stayed behind their borders and made excuses for doing nothing. Hitler rose to power exploiting Germany's 'loss' to France as a result of World War One, Frances crushing demand for 'reparations,' Frances' occupation of Alsace & Lorrain, etc. In fact Hitler had a long laundry list of reasons to attack France some of them dating back to the Fall of the Roman Empire.

So What.

Stupidity pushed Hitler in the wrong direction. Instead of resting after Poland, and then Going East, Hitler did a U-Turn and burned away his resources smashing Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Luxenburg and settling into a long standing grudge match with Britain.

You are smart enough to see what I am saying. Had Hitler gone East instead of West, Britain & France would have seen no reason to aid Russia. Mostly they hoped Hitler would get bogged down in Russia and leave them alone. And most likely Hitler would have mostly kicked Russia's b^tt with a longer haul to haul in the rest of the Russian 'Empire.'

Here is the kicker. Had Hitler gone East, in time Communist & Anarchist & Socialist in both Britain and France would have unleashed a wave of riots & strikes to protest their nations' refusal to aid Russia. I'd like to think Britain would have survived the storm but I AM CERTAIN that France would have been ripped apart. In fact the French would have INVITED HITLER to come in, to Pacify the Commies, after all wasn't Hitler battling the Bolsheviks in Russia? Once invited in the door, Hitler would have conquered France without War.

Thought I'd share that. Once again Stupidity was Hitler's greatest motivation the man was truly an Idiot.

Peace........................pppp ff tt tt zzz !!

Answer 2

France and Britain were peeved about Czecoslovacia, but let is slide, hoping that Hitler would be happy with his little morsel. However, by attacking Poland, which was necessary to accomplish his goal of taking on Russia, he pushed the Brits/French too far and they declared war on him (Accounts sugest that he did not believe they would declare for Poland).

Since war had been declared, the West entered into a phoney war, with Britain and France not attacking and Germany seeming to do nothing.

The German Ardennes offencive took the Allies by suprise and the attack to the North of the Magino Line kept the allies busy as they were being outflanked to the south.

Once France was secure, he then sweapt up the Northern countries.

Immagine that Hitler had suffered a heart attack at this point in time. He probably would have been hailed as the greatest chancellor Germany had ever known. Unfortunately, Herman Goring made a few promises that he couldn't keep. His tactics were poor, but with the might of Germany hammering against England, it would only have been a matter of time. Unfortunatle (This is the real reason why Germany lost), he forced himself to fight on two fronts (3 Including North Africa). As soon as he sent his divisions into Russia as 3 understreagth Army Groups, without counting on a winter offensive, he was doomed. He might have pulled it off, if he had allowed for the winter - allowing him to push East for longer. He also would have had a chance if he hadn't issued silly orders like Stand And Hold to his troops, robbing them of the very thing that had made them sucessful in France - Mobility.

Anyway, rant over.

Luck

Answer 3

In strategic terms:France posed a threat from the rear if Germany was to attack the USSR and also a giant port for British troops.

In ideological and national terms:they were the old enemies,responsible for the great disgrace of ww1,enemies that needed to be learned a lesson.

Those were the key reasons in a short answer,HTH :)

edit:I forgot to tell that it was France that declared war on Germany,not Germany on France...keep that in mind when you debate on German key reasons for attacking France.

Answer 4

The French were at war with them.

Germany attacked Poland and divided it with Russia. That attack caused the French and British to declare war on Germany.

The Germans did want certain pieces of territory, right on the border between the two nations, but it was primarily since they were already at war.

BTW - I agree, you don't need a reason to attack the French.

Answer 5

You don't need a reason to attack the French.

Answer 6

because france and usa were close thats why

Answer 7

They were French.

Penchant for croissants.

They would win.

Answer 8

they had FINE women.
good wine.
and there was nothing they can do about it