Bill Peters wrote:
WW2 was not a GOOD war but one that could have been avoided. Had the British and French gotten off their butts and invaded Germany much of the suffering would not have happened.
Can we avoid the use of inflammatory language, especially when used to review history with the benefit of hindsight?
It's difficult to see any point during the 1930's when France & Britain would have had enough strength to launch a pre-emptive war of conquest against Germany ...except possibly in late 1937 and early 1938. Even then, it's assuming the success of forces that can't be viewed as anything more than barely adequate in terms of manpower, training & equipment.
Even if the necessary strength had been available then the political mandate to use it ...well, THAT notion just cannot be entertained in inter-war France & Britain. Never gonna happen.
I'd best not speak for the French but for the British lacking the will for an aggressive late 30's campaign:
1. We didn't want to ...and I mean nationally there was no will to take that course.
2. We didn't believe it was necessary.
3. We felt it was avoidable.