Winwood College

Department: Humanities
Syllabus Code 0470: Option B
TOPIC: Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?
Focus Points
• What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties of 1919–23?
• What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s?
– The collapse of international order in the 1930s
-The increasing militarism of Germany, Italy and Japan
• How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939?
– the Saar
– remilitarisation of the Rhineland
– involvement in the Spanish Civil War
– Anschluss with Austria – appeasement
– crises over Czechoslovakia and Poland
– the outbreak of war
• 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?

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.