Many political and military leaders remembered trenches and stalemate more strongly than the acceleration visible at the end of the First World War. By 1939, movement depended increasingly on motor transport, rail, and mechanized forces rather than marching speed. The British fielded the only fully motorized and mechanized army, yet it dug in during the Phoney War instead of exploiting that mobility. Germany was not yet positioned for a strong western defence while campaigning in Poland. Allied caution is treated as a costly example of planning for a static conflict that no longer existed.
Chapter · 1:17:42-1:20:45
The danger of expecting another static western front
The memory of trench warfare encouraged leaders to expect time for preparation even as mechanization made WWII far faster.