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The "loopiness" of the British and French in 1939-1940 goes a ways to helping explain their defeats in 1940. In addition to contemplating intervention in Finland, tat amount to a declaration of war on the Soviet Union, when they were already at war with Nazi Germany, the French proposed (and consideration was given to) bombing the oil fields at Baku, even without aiding Finland.

Norway's fate was sealed when British destroyers entered Norwegian territorial waters and boarded the German supply ship ALTMARCK, which had been a supply ship for the panzerschiffe ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE, and which held prisoners taken by GRAF SPEE from merchantmen.

The Anglo-French force sent to Norway in early April, with the intent of occupying Narvik, and other points, was preempted by the German attack on April 9th, resulting in naval and land battles that continued until early June. Interestingly, Admiral Raeder, at Nuremberg was not allowed to use evidence of the Allied operation in his defense on the charge of planning to wage aggressive war.