The Illusion of Peace: Europe’s False Security
In September 1939, Europe witnessed the tragic fall of Poland, followed by an eerie seven-month period of relative calm known as the “Phony War.” This deceptive lull in hostilities between Britain/France and Nazi Germany created a dangerous illusion of stability across the continent. The Soviet Union’s subsequent invasion of Poland shattered this fragile peace, revealing Stalin’s ambitions to expand Soviet influence from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
The Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union (November 1939-March 1940) became a surprising microcosm of European dynamics. Finland’s initial successes against its massive neighbor demonstrated Soviet military weaknesses, though ultimately the USSR prevailed through sheer numerical superiority. While Finland earned international admiration, few noticed the telling silence from Scandinavian neighbors – none offered military or even diplomatic support, fearing to provoke Hitler’s Germany.
Military Miscalculations and Missed Opportunities
Europe’s developed nations possessed surprising military potential that went tragically untapped. Norway (3 million), Denmark (4 million), the Netherlands (9 million), Belgium (8 million), and France (40 million) could have raised formidable armies. Combined with their colonial resources, these nations theoretically could have matched German forces. France alone maintained military production superiority until war’s outbreak and boasted a larger navy than Germany.
Contemporary military doctrine suggested industrialized nations could mobilize 10% of their population. Applied collectively, this meant Scandinavia and Western Europe could have fielded 7-8 million trained soldiers – enough to potentially defeat Nazi Germany, especially with British and Commonwealth support. Yet reality proved starkly different:
– The Netherlands, despite its wealth and empire, fielded just 26 armored vehicles and zero tanks
– Denmark withdrew its border forces to signal non-resistance
– Norway and the Netherlands clung to neutrality even as German forces advanced
France’s military strategy remained trapped in World War I thinking, relying on the incomplete Maginot Line while ignoring tank and air power developments. When Germany attacked in May 1940, they easily bypassed French defenses, conquering Western Europe with minimal losses while gaining crucial industrial capacity.
The Psychology of Defeatism
Several factors contributed to this collective failure:
1. Political Divisions: Many right-wing leaders feared communism more than Nazism (“Better Hitler than Stalin”)
2. Left-Wing Opposition: Communist parties opposed rearmament after the Nazi-Soviet Pact
3. Public Apathy: Widespread desire for peace and admiration for Nazi economic “successes”
4. Institutional Failure: French commanders remained astonishingly incompetent
The speed of France’s collapse shocked observers. Despite some units fighting for six months (with 120,000 casualties), the country effectively lost within two weeks. The Dunkirk evacuation saved British forces but most French troops returned home rather than continue fighting from Britain with de Gaulle.
The Complex Reality of Occupation
After France’s June 22, 1940 surrender, collaboration became institutionalized under Marshal Pétain’s Vichy regime. Initially, German occupation forces behaved remarkably well – soldiers were ordered to be polite, respect local customs, and pay for goods (albeit with occupation currency). Contemporary photos show Danish women arm-in-arm with German soldiers and Parisian elites socializing with officers at Longchamp racetrack.
Hitler’s relatively benign treatment of Western Europe stemmed from strategic calculation rather than benevolence. His true colonial ambitions lay eastward, making Western cooperation useful. Occupation policies varied significantly:
– Norway: 300,000 German troops, harsh rule under Reich Commissioner Josef Terboven
– Denmark: Minimal German presence, continued democratic elections until 1943
– Netherlands: Civil administration under Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Racial Hierarchies in Nazi Europe
Nazi racial ideology shaped occupation policies:
– Norwegians: Considered ideal “Nordic Aryans” for breeding programs
– Danes: Similar racial status but punished for quick surrender
– Dutch: Viewed as Germanic cousins destined for eventual annexation
– French: Ambivalent status – admired culturally but considered racially mixed
The Nazis established puppet regimes where possible, most notably Vidkun Quisling’s government in Norway (making “quisling” synonymous with traitor). Denmark uniquely maintained its government until 1943, even joining the Anti-Comintern Pact against the USSR.
The Channel Islands Anomaly
Britain’s Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) presented a curious case of peaceful occupation. With no strategic value, Britain ordered “passive compliance” in 1940. German propaganda eagerly showed British policemen saluting German officers and islanders fraternizing with occupiers. Most disturbingly, local authorities compiled lists of Jewish residents for deportation to death camps – the only British soil where this occurred.
Balkan Complications
Germany’s 1941 Balkan campaign introduced new complexities:
– Ethnic divisions in Yugoslavia exploded into civil war
– Croatia established a fascist puppet state under Ante Pavelić
– Greece saw competing resistance movements (communist vs. royalist)
– Multiple foreign occupiers (Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary) pursued conflicting agendas
This chaotic environment made simple “collaboration” or “resistance” labels meaningless, as survival often required shifting alliances between ethnic groups, political factions, and occupying powers.
The Illusion Unravels
By mid-1941, Hitler dominated continental Europe with no remaining enemies – only allies and neutrals. Yet this apparent triumph contained seeds of destruction:
1. Underestimation of Soviet resilience (the “headless colossus” proved formidable)
2. Overextension across multiple fronts
3. Growing resistance movements
4. American industrial power entering the war
The “phony peace” of 1939-1941 gave way to total war, revealing the fundamental instability of Nazi Europe’s uneasy alliances and occupations. What began as a calculated strategy of limited cooperation would soon descend into the bloodiest conflict in human history.