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In September 1939, the Nazi War Machine invaded Poland and World War II began. France and its Britain declared against Nazi Germany in 1939. The French army was in theory as strong as the Germanys and it had a vast Empire and a sophisticated arms industry. It had also established a series of fortifications in the east of the country, known as the Maginot Line. The Line was designed to keep German forces out of France. Initially, France and Great Britain appeared to be a match for Germany. However, in a period of weeks in the late Spring and Early Summer of 1940, it became clear that that France was woefully unprepared for the German onslaught. France suffered a humiliating defeat and was occupied by Nazi Germany. France's failure was a result of a hopelessly divided French political elite, poor a lack of military leadership, rudimentary French military tactics and vastly more prepared German army that utilized more advanced weapons and tactics. It was a mismatch.