HISTORY OF THE 4 WORLD (| far Publish iy Marshall Cavandch mgbwre Mya SRT O5¢This week’s contents: Prelude to Disaster J H Huizinga ii The Climate of Appeasement Barrie Pitt 1 Before the Blitzkrieg Donald C Watt 11 Blitzkrieg Barrie Pitt (© 2 Panining is 13 Two Sides of the Polish Campaign Second alton 1972 General Walther K Nehring and © Marshal Cavendish USA Led 1973 Colonel Adam Sawezynski An international history published by Marshall Cavendish Ltd and produced in co-operation with the Imperial War Museum in England, which provided extensive research facilities and expert advice. By keeping your weekly issues in the handsome, gold-blocked binders specially made for the work you will build up the most comprehensive and readable account of the Second World War ever published. A complete index will be published at the end of the work which will total six volumes. Editor-in-Chief: the late Sir Basil Liddell Hart Editor: Barrie Pitt Printed in USA How to obtain History of the Second World War Tomakesureyoudonotmissany Parts of History of the Second World War, ask your magazine dealer to keep a copy for you each week. If you experience difficulty in obtaining copies, write to History of the Second World War, 6 Commercial Street, Hicksville, New York 11801. Binders— Special Introductory Offer The special binders for History ofthe Second World Warlooklike ahandsomebook binding. Inside, aunique fitting lets you bind in ‘each weekly Part. The binder is designed to hold the 16 parts, that will make up each of six volumes. Use the order form in the center of this issue to obtain your Volume 1 binder at half price. Foundation Reader Subscription Offer A subscription to History of the Second World War ensures that you don't miss a single Part. ‘We mail each issue directly to yourhomeeachweek.Tohelpyou start your collection, we are offering an introductory subscription at $9:00 for 12 issues —a saving of $2:40. Turnto the leaflet in the center of this issue for your order form.Bij fy Te Cry the 9 ‘The five months separating Britain’s guarantee to Poland from Germany’s onslaught on that country were hectic ones. Throughout that long summer the diplomats bluffed, blandished, threatened, parleyed, bargained; the stakes were high, the tension enormous. At first it looked as if Hitler might be contained; then came the diplomatic shock which paralysed the West, the volte-face of Soviet Russia. Finally, when it became too late for negotiations, smaller nations found themselves the pawns of greater powers—and the major powers seemed themselves to be the pawns of fate n 2899 Poraiy Cc Yeap ‘On March 15, 1939, German troops invaded Czechoslovakia and occupied Prague. Two days later Chamberlain, in a public speech at Birmingham, accused Hitler of breaking hia word. On March 22, German troope occupied the old German city of Memel in Lithuania, forcing that stato to sign a treaty conceding Memel’s return to Germany. Recognising a parallel between ‘Memel and the old German port of Danzig in Poland, the Poles announced, on March 28, that aay German attempt to alter Danzig’a status without Polish content ‘would lead to war. On March 31, Britain extended to Poland a unilateral Buarantee against German aggression, ‘Diplomatic talks bogan between the West ‘and the Soviet Union. THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF PEACE ‘Api 7: aly evades the Balkan state of Albania, ‘April 17: Diplo Gorman-Polish| of 8 May 4: Molotov replaces Litvinov as Soviet Foreign Minster May 22: Ribbentrop and Ciano sign the ‘Pact ‘of Stoo to weld together Europe's strongost Fascist letatorshipa; Japan Is ssked t9 Jain the allance. ‘June 3: Nazi-controled Danzig complains of too many Polish customs officials. Polana’s Caustic reply masts with a new barrage of Nazi propaganda, and rumours of an impending Nazi Coup sweep the country. July 24: Britain, France, and Russia agroe so ‘offer mutual sbstance should any ofthe three be attgcked. But the pact isnot to come into ‘Operation until corresponding military ‘greements are reached. ‘August 23: Ribbentrop and Molotov sign a ‘non-aggression pact Between Berlin and Moscow. The pact includes a secret annex that ‘vides eastern Europe between Germany anc the Soviet Union ‘August 25: Hitler schedules the attack on Poland for tne next day, Dut revokes the orders ‘when Muscat! informe him that aly fs not prepared for wt ‘August 31: Hitler again orders the attack on Poland ‘At 045 hours, without declaring is ataek on Poland. ‘Septomber 2: Chamberlain sends his ultimatum to fillr-if Germany does not withdraw her ‘oops Immediately she must consider herself st war with Britain