Greenville
Banned
What if in 1939, Britain and France don't allow declare war on Germany following its invasion of Poland and never do afterwards?
Invading France would risk an eventual Soviet invasion of Nazi Germany, though. Indeed, either Nazi Germany risks a French invasion by attacking the USSR or risks a Soviet invasion by attacking France. Thus, I suspect that Hitler will go for the USSR since that's where the Communist threat is and where the overwhelming majority of his desired Lebensraum is."We must at last become entirely clear about this: The German people's irreconcilable mortal enemy is and remains France."
-Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf
Hitler would probably have invaded France in May of 1940 anyway. Hitler clearly believed France would have to be defeated before Germany could attain her destiny. It makes military sense anyway: Germany can't afford a massive war against Russia if there's a chance that France could stab them in the back at any time. And Hitler saw France as ultimately the greater threat and the one that would have to be dealt with soonest. By comparison, he was rather dismissive of the Soviets.
Very good point.Why would he? From his point of view the French and British are nothing but cowards he can deal with once the main enemy the Soviet Union has been crushed under foot. After all, if they didn't act despite giving firm commitments to do so if he invaded Poland, they're hardly likely to interfere with him attacking the Soviets, who they hate almost as much as him.
Britain and France severely damage their reputations and trustworthiness.
Also, this might bring forward the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union by one year (to June 1940).
"We must at last become entirely clear about this: The German people's irreconcilable mortal enemy is and remains France."
-Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf
Hitler would probably have invaded France in May of 1940 anyway. Hitler clearly believed France would have to be defeated before Germany could attain her destiny. It makes military sense anyway: Germany can't afford a massive war against Russia if there's a chance that France could stab them in the back at any time. And Hitler saw France as ultimately the greater threat and the one that would have to be dealt with soonest. By comparison, he was rather dismissive of the Soviets.
The next day the British government falls anf the new govt immediately declares war?
There's a risk that when the Soviets attack Finland that Britain declares war on them. If that happens Germany is may do the same.
Sorry, Britain backs off from defending an ally (Poland), and then it goes to war for a country it has no alliance with?
It depends. If Chamberlain is gone, his government having fallen due to not declaring war to protect Poland, if as OTL, Churchill takes over, he was anti-communist.
I suspected it might to an extent. Depends if Churchill is prepared to accept the fait acompli re Poland and go after his No1 bugbear - communists.The rest sounds rather far-fetched to me.
At some point he will go to war with them unless someone defeats him before he can, at the very least to get Alsace and Lorraine back.
I wonder if he might decide to go after the Soviets first though. If he does, the USSR might end up with a border on the Rhine for the reasons mentioned in the reply to Caliguy.