History of Europe

What was Great response to invasion of Poland?

Great Britain and France

* Declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. This was in accordance with their mutual assistance pact with Poland.

* Began the Phoney War, a period of limited military activity along the Franco-German border.

* Sent the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France to help defend the country against a German invasion.

* Blockaded Germany to prevent it from importing essential supplies.

United States

* Condemned the German invasion of Poland.

* Imposed economic sanctions on Germany.

* Increased its military spending.

* Passed the Neutrality Act of 1939, which prohibited the sale of arms and munitions to belligerent countries.

* Gave moral support to Britain and France.

* Offered asylum to Jewish refugees from Europe

Soviet Union

* Invaded Poland from the east on 17 September 1939, in accordance with the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Germany.

* Occupied eastern Poland and annexed it to the Soviet Union.

* Signed a non-aggression pact with Germany on 23 August 1939, which helped to pave the way for the German invasion of Poland.

* Collaborated with the Germans during the initial stages of the war