Department: Humanities

Syllabus Code 0470: Option B

TOPIC: How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak
of war in Europe in 1939?
Focus Points
 What were the long-term consequences of the Treaty of
Versailles?
 What were the consequences of the failures of the League of
Nations in the 1930s?
 Was the policy of appeasement justified?
 How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?
 Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in
September 1939?
Specified content
 Hitler’s foreign policy aims
 Rearmament
 The Saar
 Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
 The Rome–Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact
 German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War
 Anschluss with Austria
 The crisis over Czechoslovakia and the Munich Agreement
 The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war
What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties of
1919–23?
Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims
 When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he was determined to
make Germany the leading military power in Europe and conquer territory
in Eastern Europe.
 However, he faced a number of obstacles that he had to overcome in order
to put his plan into action, Germany was a democracy and her armed
forces were limited by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which was in
turn policed by the League of Nations.
 Within three months of being elected as Chancellor (Prime Minister) of
Germany, Hitler had overthrown democracy in Germany and turned
German into a One-Party State.
 By 1934, he had removed all opposition to himself within his own party
with the help of the SS and the army and became a military dictator.
 He now had the power he needed to put his aims into practice:
Abolish the Treaty of Versailles
 The terms were unfair as Germany was the only country that had been
forced to disarm.
 Other countries like Austria and Hungary had been let off from having to
pay reparations when their countries went bankrupt, whilst Germany on
the other hand was invaded by both France and Belgium in 1923.
Rearm Germany
 The German Army was limited to 100,000 men, was not allowed to have an
air force, submarines or have any modern weapons and only a tiny navy.
 This was unfair as Germany could not defend herself from attack.
Remilitarize the Rhineland
 As part of the Armistice and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany
had to demilitarize the Rhineland, which bordered France and Belgium, as
well as containing the majority of Germany’s manufacturing, coal and iron
industries.
 This effectively left the front door open and allowed both France and
Belgium to invade in 1923.
 This was unfair and if Germany was to grow strong again, she needed to
be able to secure her borders.
Unite all German speaking peoples
 as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, 6 million Germans were denied the
right to self-determination that was given to other Europeans and forced
to live in other countries.
 Austria was also banned from uniting with Germany.
 This was unfair as the German people had the right to self-determination
and to live in their own country if they wished.
Expand German Territory
 as a direct result of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had lost 13% of its
land, 16% of its coal industry, 15% of its iron industry and 48% of its most
productive agricultural land.
 If Germany was going to grow strong again and feed its people, it would
need this land back.
Lebensraum
 The German people were a master race and needed land or ‘living space’
for their expanding population.
 In order to survive, Germany would have to conquer land in the East.
Defeat Communism
 Communism was an idea started by a Karl Marx, a German Jew and was
threatening to take over the world.
 In order to stop this Jewish plot to take over the World, Germany would
have to defeat the USSR or communist Russia.
 Communists in Germany were also responsible for weakening Germany
both during and after the First World War.
 They are enemies of the state and must be punished and wiped off the
face of the earth.
Question: What actions had Hitler taken by the end of 1935 to break the
Treaty of Versailles?
 Hitler refused to pay any more reparations.
 He left the League of Nations.
 In 1933, Hitler began re-arming in secret.
  Hitler attempted the Anschluss with Austria.
 Hitler re-introduced conscription.
 He announced that his army would be 500000.
 He announced his intention of creating a military air force.
 Hitler signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, which allowed
him a fleet that was 35% the size of Britain’s fleet.
 This Agreement allowed Germany 45% of Britain’s submarines.

What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the

1930s?
 Manchuria and Abyssinia, along with disarmament failure, led to League of
Nation losing all credibility. ‘Nail in the coffin’ for its authority.
 Exposed League’s weaknesses
 Britain & France unprepared for war and wanted to avoid it as much as
possible. Needed to buy time to prepare. Led to appeasement, which made
Hitler more confident
 Led to the second world war
How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of
war in 1939?
 Role of Hitler’s foreign policy: expansionism intent clearly outlined in Mein
Kampf, Nazi Party gained support in Germany and he gambled his way to
rearmament, Rhineland, Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Poland. Willingness
to fight for his interest would ultimately lead to war.
 Role of other factors: his foreign policy was more gambling than planned;
encouraged by appeasement (e.g. Rhineland 29 Czechoslovakia). Failure of
the League meant there was no condemnation or collective security to
impede him. Treaty of Versailles weaknesses exploited and this discontent
largely shaped his foreign policy. Expansionist intent not new to Germany-
‘greater Germany’ vision resonated by Kaiser also- German foreign policy’
and aggressive nationalism in general to blame for war, not just Hitler’s
nationalism.
Describe the events comprising evidence of Hitler’s
aggression
Really Stealthy, Rad Attacks Sometimes May Cause Problems
German Rearmament
When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he was determined to make
Germany the leading military power in Europe and conquer territory in Eastern
Europe for his master race. In order to do this, he needed to rearm Germany with
modern weapons and increase the size of her armed forces. However, the main
obstacle to his plan was the Treaty of Versailles, which was enforced by the
League of Nations. Luckily for Germany, the international determination to make
the League of Nations work had been weakened in the 1920s and had been
further undermined by the Great Depression, which made it difficult for the
League to enforce its economic sanctions. As a result, countries were focusing on
fixing their own problems, rather than those in other countries. Aware of this,
Hitler was careful to avoid provoking Britain and France until he was ready.
• German rearmament began immediately in 1933. At first, this was done
secretly with the help of industrialists who supported Hitler and helped to fund
the Nazi party. Production of new tanks, aircraft and other weapons began.
• In 1934, Hitler went to the Geneva Disarmament Conference. He asked for
equality with the French army. The British agreed but the French refused. Hitler
walked out left the League of Nations claiming that Germany was being treated
unfairly. Britain and France blamed each other for the failure to reach agreement.
• In 1935, the Anglo-German Naval agreement allowed Germany to increase her
Navy beyond the limits set at Versailles. The French were furious and believed the
British were too soft with Germany. This further divided Britain and France to
Hitler’s advantage.
• Later in 1935 Hitler declared that he was increasing the German Army to
500,000. He also announced the existence of a German Air Force. These things
had been forbidden at Versailles.
• Rearmament was very popular in Germany and it boosted support for the Nazi
party. Hitler also knew that the British public had some sympathy with Germany
on the issue.
• At each stage Britain and France were divided over what to do. Many people in
Britain felt that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were too harsh and were
prepared to support politicians who were prepared to follow policies which avoid
confrontation with Germany.

Question: In what ways had Hitler built up Germany’s military strength by March
1936?
 By ignoring the military restrictions in the Treaty of Versailles.
 He began increasing the army above the 100 000 limit.
 Hitler started building tanks and warships.
 Hitler started using the unemployed in new armaments factories.
 Hitler introduced conscription.
 Hitler introduced his new air force.
 In 1935, Hitler signed the Anglo-German Naval Treaty, which allowed
Germany 35% of the size of Britain’s navy.
 In 1936, Germany re-militarised the Rhineland.
 He started building tanks, warships, submarines and aeroplanes.
The Saar Plebiscite
The Treaty of Versailles placed the Saar, an important coal-mining area on the
Franco-German border, under the League of Nation’s administration for 15 years.
The profits from the German coal mines in this area were used to help pay
towards the reparations that Germany owed to France. This was seen at the time
as a great injustice by the German people as the people of the Saar were being
denied their rights to determine whether they wanted to be a part of Germany.
In January, 1935 the people of the Saar were finally given the opportunity to vote
in a plebiscite on whether they wanted to become a part of Germany or France.
They voted by 477,000 to 48,000 to return to Germany. This overwhelming vote
was seen as a propaganda victory for Hitler, who increased its international
impact by promising to make no further claims on French territory and in
particular the areas of Alsace and Lorraine. This helped to improve his
international image by presenting him as a reasonable man who was only wanted
to get justice for the German people who were suffering from the harsh effects of
the Treaty of Versailles.
• 1919 – The Saar was removed from Germany on a temporary / permanent basis
for 15 years and put under the control of the League of Nations. All the profits
from this rich coal mining area are given to France as part of her reparation
payments. This is bitterly resent by most Germans as the people in the Saar were
no longer part of Germany.
• 1933 – When Hitler comes to power, some of his opponents took refuge in the
Saar, where they campaigned for the area to remain under the League, but the
great majority of the people living there were Germans and there was rooted
hostility to France.
• 1935 – The League of Nations holds a plebiscite or vote on whether the Saar
should reunite with Germany. They voted 477,000 or 90% to 48,000 or 10% in
favour of a return to Germany. This was an important victory for the Nazis who
were able to portray themselves as representing the popular will of the German
people in the fight against the unfair treaty of Versailles.
• Germans who lived outside Germany had shown the world that they hated the
Treaty of Versailles democratically and loved Germany more than they feared
Hitler's regime. It made it very hard for Hitler’s opponents to argue that the
German people were not wholly behind him and his aims for ‘One People, One
Leader, One Empire.’
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles, forbade Germany from having any armed
forces in the Rhineland. This was done to stop future German aggression and give
both France and Belgium security. However, both countries had exploited this
weakness by invading Germany in 1923 in order to force her into paying
reparations. This left a lasting sense of bitterness in Germany and helped to
increase hatred towards the treaty of Versailles, which helped the Nazis to get
elected in 1933.
Aware of the fact that the world was focusing on the international crisis in
Abyssinia, Hitler marched his troops back into the Rhineland in March 1936.
Shocked by this turn of events Britain and France did nothing.
Austria, (Anschluss), 1938
Hitler had been born in Austria. He believed that as the Austrians were German
speaking, they should be joined or united with into a greater Germany. This was
strictly forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. However, a strong
Nazi Party already existed in Austria and Hitler used them to stir up trouble and
make it appear that the Austrians wanted to join with Germany. They staged
demonstrations calling for political union with Germany (Anschluss) and some of
these turned into riots. However, Hitler’s dream was put on hold in 1934, when
Mussolini had stopped him. Four years later the situation was very different.
Germany was stronger and Hitler and Mussolini were now allies.
Countdown to Anschluss
• In February 1938, Hitler called a meeting with the Austrian Chancellor Herr
Schuschnigg and told him that they only way to solve Austria’s problems was
through Anschluss. The meeting ended with Hitler threatening Schuschnigg into
making concessions. See Source 5. • On his return to Austria, Herr Schuschnigg
decided to try and fight Hitler by trying to arrange a plebiscite or referendum
(vote) on whether his country should remain independent of Germany.
• On 11 March, Hitler demanded that the vote should be stopped. Schuschnigg
resigned and Germany invaded, supposedly at the invitation of the Austrian Nazis.
• Britain and France did nothing to stop the invasion. Hitler later held a plebiscite
or vote in April 1938 and 99.75% of Austrian’s supposedly approved the uniting of
Austria with Germany.
• Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, felt that the Austrians and Germans
had a right to be united and felt that the Treaty of Versailles had been wrong to
separate them.
• Britain’s Lord Halifax had even suggested to Hitler before the Anschluss that
Britain would not resist Germany uniting with Austria.
• The lack of opposition from Britain and France made Hitler even more
confident. He was aware that many people Britain felt that the Treaty of Versailles
had been too harsh on Germany and that people did not want their country
dragged into another war.
Spanish Civil War
Hitler & Mussolini supported General Franco’s right-wing extremist rebels against
communist supporter of the Republican government. LON helpless. Condor legion
bombed Guernica. (Nationalist victory). Dress rehearsal/testing ground for WW2.
Question: Why was involvement in the Spanish Civil War of benefit to Hitler?
 Hitler was able to test the capability of his Luftwaffe in strategic bombing
of Spanish towns such as Guernica.
 It was testing carpet bombing which made civilians a direct target.
 The attacks were designed in waives to maximise the damage and
casualties.
 He was able to support a fellow fascist.
 Hitler was able to try out his military equipment.
 He was able to try out his tactics.
 Hitler was able to combat communism.
 It provided a distraction while he took action over Austria.
 Mussolini and Hitler worked closely together in Spain leading to the
‘Rome-Berlin Axis’.
Munich Pact (1938)
 Czechoslovakia Triumph? Averted war, gain time, people learnt to not trust Hitler
(Opinion poll Oct 1938- 93% did not believe his claim of have no more territorial
ambition in Europe) or Sell out? Public relief overstated-not really peace just
preparation period, appeasement failed, Allies lost important ally. Trigger: claim
that Czech government mistreating Germans in Sudetenland, wanted to ’rescue’
them by 1st Oct. Britain sees demands as unreasonable and mobilizes army, war
imminent. Resolved with Munich pact & joint declaration (peace for our time) on
29th September 1938. Czechs and USSR not consulted about conceding
Sudetenland to Germany.
Question: ‘Chamberlain’s attempts to reach agreement at Munich were
worthwhile.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
 During the 1st World War, Chamberlain was Director General of National
Service and had seen the horrors of war.
 Chamberlain was trying to keep the peace.
 Nearly every family had lost a member in the war.
 He wanted to avoid going to war again at all costs.
 Chamberlain did not think Britain was prepared for war.
 Britain’s air defences were incomplete.
 The British Empire would not support another war
However,
 If war had broken out in October 1938, Britain and France would have
had the support of the 36 divisions of the Czech army fighting behind
their well-defences.
 The Soviet Union would probably have remained neutral. Britain had
abandoned Czechoslovakia. Britain, France and Czechoslovakia together
could have defeated Hitler. There was little point given Hitler’s plans.
Czechoslovakia, 1938
After the Anschluss, it was clear that Czechoslovakia, with its land thrusting deep
into German territory, would be a direct threat to Germany. Edward Benes, the
leader of Czechoslovakia was horrified at the Anschluss. He realised that his
country would be next on Hitler’s takeover list as it had three million ethnic
Germans living in an area called the Sudetenland.
Although not a large country, Czechoslovakia was well defended and had a
modern well-equipped army which was similar in size to the German Army. The
country had a lot of natural resources including coal, iron and steel as well as a
thriving arms industry. With support from Britain and France the
Czechoslovakian’s could have successfully resisted a German invasion. There was
a real threat of war!
• By 1938, Germany was in a very strong position and when Hitler moved
against Czechoslovakia, he was ready for war. Britain was not and had only just
begun to rearm.
• Within a few weeks of the Anschluss, Nazis living in the Sudetenland started
claiming that they were being treated badly by the Czechoslovakian government.
• Hitler ordered his generals to start planning for an invasion on 1st October
1938 and told them: ‘It is my unalterable decision to smash Czechoslovakia. At a
meeting with the Czech President Benes, he demanded the Sudetenland be given
to Germany.
• The Soviet Union (USSR) offered to help the Czechs provided the French were
willing to fight. The Czechs and the French began to mobilize their armies. German
troops were moved to the Czech border.
• In a last-ditch attempt to prevent the invasion and keep the peace,
Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister flew to Germany to meet with Hitler on
15th September 1938.
• The meeting appeared to go well. Hitler was prepared to negotiate saying that
he was only interested in the Sudetenland and then only if a plebiscite or election
showed that the Sudeten Germans wanted to join Germany. This seemed
reasonable to Chamberlain or thought that he could do a deal with Hitler.
• On 19th September, the British and French put to the deal that Chamberlain
had negotiated to the Czech government. However, they refused to surrender the
Sudetenland as it would make them defenceless against Germany.
• On 22nd September, Hitler went back on his word and said that he wanted the
whole of the Sudetenland. Chamberlain refused saying that Hitler’s demands
were unreasonable. The British army and navy were mobilized for war.
• Chamberlain was desperate for a solution that would avoid war. Britain was
not ready and had only just begun to rearm. When Mussolini, proposed a four-
power conference, both Hitler and Chamberlain, who both saw a solution to their
problems agreed to attend.
• On 29th September 1938, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and France
met at Munich and signed an agreement that gave Hitler the terms he had
demanded. Czechoslovakia was broken up and Hitler had got what he wanted.
However, as part of the agreement, Chamberlain also got Hitler to agree that he
would not take any more land in Europe.
• Throughout these negotiations, neither the Czech nor the USSR governments
were consulted over the Munich Agreement.
• On his return to Britain, Chamberlain claimed that the Munich agreement would
bring ‘peace in our time.’ However, this new policy of appeasement relied very
heavily on Hitler keeping his promises. Meanwhile, Britain began to rearm in
earnest and prepare for war.

Was the policy of appeasement justified?

Statements:
• Britain and France wanted to direct German aggression towards USSR
• Britain needed to buy more time to rearm
• The policy of appeasement was popular amongst the British people.
• The horrors of the First World War were still fresh in peoples’ minds.
• Neville Chamberlain was a fool who was duped by Hitler’s promises that he
would not attack anymore countries.
• Hitler’s demands appeared to be reasonable. The Treaty of Versailles was
unfair.
Pro & Con Organiser Statements
• A strong Germany could help Britain in a future war against communism.
• Appeasement was based on the belief that Hitler could be trusted.
• Britain did not have allies who were prepared to fight with her against Germany
in 1938.
• It gave Germany time to build more weapons, capture more factories and
resources and become stronger.
• It gave Britain time to rearm. In 1938, Britain’s army was small and its weapons
were old.
• Britain and France are still suffering from the effects of the Great Depression
and neither could afford another war.
• It encouraged Hitler to more aggressive as he thought that Britain would give
in to avoid war.
• In opinion polls, the British people were not prepared to support a war to
protect Czechoslovakia in 1938.
• War is wrong! The horrors and sacrifices of the Great War should never be
repeated.
• If we give Hitler what he wants, he might leave us alone and attack the Soviet
Union instead!
• Appeasement did not prevent war. It just put it off
• Hitler’s demands were not unreasonable. The Treaty of Versailles was too harsh
and unfair!
• Appeasement scared the USSR as it sent as message that Britain and France
would not stand in Hitler’s way.
The end of Appeasement: Czechoslovakia, 1939
At Munich, Hitler had given Chamberlain meaningless promises about the
Sudetenland in future being the last territorial claim that he had to make in
Europe. On his return to Britain Chamberlain claimed in the news and the press
that he had secured a deal with Hitler that promised ‘peace for our time’, whilst
privately the government began to rearm and prepare for a possible future war.
If Chamberlain had hoped that the Munich Agreement and his policy of
Appeasement would secure peace or at least buy Britain more time to rearm, then
his hopes were to be shattered six months later when Hitler took over the whole
of Czechoslovakia on the 15th March 1939. It was now clear that appeasing or
giving into Hitler only made him more aggressive and that his promises were
worthless. The time had finally come to stand up to him.
• On the 15th March 1939, German forces crossed the Czech border and
invaded the country.
• Czechoslovakia was unable to put up any resistance as it had lost its key
strategic defences as a result of the Munich Agreement in 1938.
• Both Britain and France took no action and stood by as German forces took
what was left of Czechoslovakia. Britain had only just begun to rearm and France
was not prepared to go to war without British support.
• However, for Chamberlain and British public opinion, this was a step too far as
Hitler had not only broken his promises, but was now taking land that had never
belonged to Germany.
• For Hitler, this was about conquering Lebensraum or ‘living space’ for his
German master race.
• As part of a secret deal Hitler gave part of Czechoslovakia to Hungary, whilst
Poland not to be outdone also grabbed some territory. Everyone was looking out
for their own interests. Nobody was prepared to fight to protect their neighbours.
• It was clear that Poland would be Hitler’s next target. Britain and France were
determined to make a stand and on 30 March, they promised to assist Poland if
Germany attacked.
 Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September
1939?
 Hitler’s actions and policies- Hitler was determined to undo Treaty of
Versailles from very beginning, would happen sooner or later
 League of the Nations failed after Manchuria, Abyssinia and unsuccessful
disarmament attempts.
 Appeasement intensified Hitler’s aggression. Britain and France
unprepared for war and had little other choice
 Nazi Soviet Pact paved way for the invasion of Poland gave USSR time in
rearm Violation of the Munich Pact & Polish guarantee led to war
However other important factors also played a role in starting the war:
 Appeasement also very important in causing war by encouraging Hitler’s
aggression
 Failure of League caused by Great Depression meant appeasement
inevitable & Hitler aggression unchecked
 Polish guaranteed invasion would certainly result in war
 Treaty of Versailles inspired Hitler’s revenge therefore very large role to
play
How important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
A key aim of Hitler’s foreign policy was to take back land that Germany had lost
under the Treaty of Versailles and to unite all German speaking people. Germany
had lost a lot land to Poland and many of the Germans living there had been
forced to move by the Polish Army. Hitler was keen to get this land back and get
revenge for the way the Germans had been treated by the Poles in 1919.
After the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain declared that Britain
would defend Poland if Germany tried to take her over. Hitler was certain that
Chamberlain would back down as he had done before. Meanwhile, Britain tried to
make a deal with Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union (USSR), Chamberlain
wanted both countries to agree to protect Poland. However, as a result of the
Munich Agreement, Stalin did not trust either Britain or Frances and suspected
that they were hoping to turn Hitler’s war machine away from Western to Easter
Europe and the USSR.
 USSR (Russian) Timeline of International Relations
• In 1920, Poland had invaded Russia whilst it was involved in a bitter civil war
and unable to defend itself. The Poles then stole enough land from the USSR to
double its size.
• In 1934, the USSR had joined the League of Nations, hoping that the League
would protect it from future German aggression as Hitler clearly hated
communism and wanted ‘living space’ in Eastern Europe and USSR.
• However, during the 1930s, politicians in both Britain and France had not
resisted German rearmament. Indeed, some actually welcomed a stronger
Germany as a force to fight communism.
• In 1935, Stalin signed a treaty with France, which promised to help USSR if she
was attacked by Germany. However, Stalin was not sure that the French could be
trusted to stick to it, particularly after they failed to stop Hitler moving his troops
back into the Rhineland, which was right on their own border.
• In 1936, the League proved to be weak and unable to stop aggressive dictators
like Mussolini from attacking Abyssinia, which frightened Stalin and other Russian
leaders.
• In 1938, the USSR was not invited to the Munich Agreement to discuss the
future of Czechoslovakia which increased Stalin’s concerns that Britain and France
were trying to turn the German war machine away from Western towards Eastern
Europe and the USSR.
• After the invasion of what was left of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Stalin concluded
that neither Britain or France were strong enough to stop Germany so he had
better look out for his own country’s interests rather than working cooperatively
to stop Hitler.
• When Chamberlain declared that he was prepared to defend Poland if she was
attacked by Germany, Stalin interpreted this as Britain being prepared to protect
one of USSR’s potential enemies.
• In August 1939, Stalin stunned the world by signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact with
Germany. Both countries agreed not to attack each other for ten years. Germany
agreed to share technology with the USSR, whilst the USSR agreed to supply raw
materials, oil and food to Germany if she was attacked.
• In the secret clauses of the pact, both countries agreed to divide Poland up
between them so that Germany could get the land back that it had lost under the
Treaty of Versailles and the USSR could get the land back that it had lost to
Poland in 1920.
 Why did German and USSR sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
Advantages for Germany
• Hitler knew that he could now invade Poland without having to fight the USSR
• Germany would be able to get back the land it had lost to Poland under the
terms of the Treaty of Versailles and grab some Lebensraum or ‘living space’ as
part of the deal
• One of the reasons that Germany had lost the FWW in 1918, was that it run out
of food and supplies. As part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, the USSR agreed to supply
Germany with all the raw materials, food and oil that she would need in a future
war against Western Europe. • The Nazi-Soviet pact would stop an alliance
between USSR, Britain and France.
Advantages for USSR
• The USSR would not be drawn into a war with Germany over Poland. with
Germany over Poland.
• Poland had invaded Russia in 1920, before the creation of the USSR and had
doubled its size by taking Russian territory. The USSR would get this land back,
which could then act as a buffer between the USSR and Germany.
• Britain and France could not be trusted as potential allies against Germany.
• War with Germany was inevitable. The Nazi-Soviet Pact gave the USSR more
time to rearm.
• As part of the deal Germany promised to provide new tank and aircraft
technology to help modernise the Soviet Army.
Significance
 Cleared the way for German invasion of Poland
 Poland fell
 Guaranteed war with Britain and France
 Established that appeasement had failed

German Invasion of Poland, 1939

At dawn on 1st September 1939, German troops crossed into Poland using their
new tactic, ‘Blitzkrieg’ or Lightening War. Hitler was confident of an easy victory
and that neither Britain nor France would go to war over Poland. Both countries
sent an ultimatum to Germany, which Hitler ignored. Then 24 hours later, Britain
and France both declared war on 3rd September 1939. This did not stop Hitler
who continued his invasion.
Due to the distances involved and the speed of the German attack, Britain and
France were unable to act quickly enough to help Poland. Although the Polish
Army fought hard, their men, horses and technology were no match for the new
German tactics. Then on the 17th September, the USSR following the secret
clauses of the Nazi-Soviet Pact invaded Poland from the east. Within a month
Poland was defeated.
• In the summer of 1939 the German newspapers and radio stations began to
put out anti Polish propaganda claiming that the Poles were persecuting Germans
living in the Polish Corridor.
• On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland. Britain and France sent
an ultimatum to Hitler demanding that the German army withdraw. Hitler refused
and on 3 Sept Britain and France declared war on Germany.
• On 6th October, Polish forces are finally defeated at the Battle of Kock,
although the country never formally surrenders this marks the defeat of Poland.
Thousands of Polish soldiers then begin a 3000-mile journey through Eastern
Europe, Turkey and the Middle East to join up with British soldiers in North Africa.