Why was the Saar Offensive called off? I know they ran into a mine field, but..I hope that wasn't the reason they went back to the Magniot line? Any insight?
simple per se the weather and lack of fuels thus the end result no provisions from the rear sent to the front to further the German advance or sayeth my relatives still living in the Saarland
The Sarr offensive was designed to pressure the Germans into reinforcing the west front by reducing the attack on Poland. When the Poles collapsed in three weeks the attack no longer fit French strategy. The French intent then was to avoid attacks until the army had been fully trained and rearmed. That would be late 1941 or 1942. To put it another way the French expected the Poles to hold out for several months. The Saar offensive was intended to help the Poles hold out a bit longer.
Firstly the Saar offensive was initiated to show resolve to the French people. However the offensive was not planned to be a major operation, a pity since the conditions were favorable. France had many governments and swift changes in the time leading up to the war, and the offensive was seen as a great means to show the population that the government was on top of things.
