Quote Originally Posted by InsaneApache
IIRC didn't the French occupy parts of the Rhineland in the early stages of the 'phoney war'?
No. They did it between the wars to get the money promised in the Versaille treaty.

France could not attack, because the Maginot stood in their way. The complete doctrine was defensive. They were not able to change this. They did not want to have another WW1 where a whole generation died. So they tried to secure themself with steel and stones.

Britain alone could not do it either. And the British military dctrine was defensive too. Protect the islands with fighters and the RN, then support France and attack Germany with long range fighters. They did not want to risk their lives too.