Final answer:
Britain and France's military views differed in the 1930s, with Britain focusing on a flexible response to threats and rearmament due to fears of German expansion, while France invested in static defenses, exemplified by the Maginot Line, and adopted a defensive posture awaiting a German attack.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1930s, Great Britain and France had differing stances on military action and preparedness. Britain, reflecting on the Agadir Crisis of 1911, maintained a suspicion of German military ambitions, which resulted in increased influence of the military in British policy-making. Germany's spring offensive in 1940 against France demonstrated the effectiveness of a rapid, mechanized attack, bypassing the heavily fortified, static defenses of the Maginot Line.
France's military doctrine, influenced by the experiences of World War I and the desire to avoid another protracted conflict, was defensive in nature, focusing on the reinforced Maginot Line and waiting for a German attack during what was called the drôle de guerre. This contrasted with Britain’s more flexible response to German aggression, although it too avoided direct military engagement with Germany in the lead-up to World War II. The interwar period saw both countries grappling with the trauma of the First World War, but while France invested in static defenses, Britain engaged in diplomatic efforts and a slow rearmament, partly driven by the recognition of the growing threat from Germany.