The Collapse of France; The Polish Government in London

Abstract

After his victory over Poland, his rear secure by his pact with Stalin, Hitler was immediately able to turn his gaze to the West. He was so certain of his ally, who was supporting him with great quantities of raw materials, that he left in Poland only as many divisions as the occupation required, concentrating all his forces on the Western front. The triumphant Blitzkrieg against the Polish army had so increased his confidence that as early as 9 October 1939 he issued a directive for an autumn attack on France, but the bad weather and his generals’ persuasiveness forced him to postpone it.¹ This allowed him peacefully to build up his forces and deploy every necessary unit in the West.