3.2.6 Invasion of Poland, 1939

Question 1

Why did Hitler want to invade Poland? (2)

Answer 1

• He could take more Lebensraum
• He could continue to defy the terms of the Treaty of Versailles by invading land that was taken away from Germany in 1919

Question 2

What problem did Hitler become aware to when deciding to invade Poland?

Answer 2

The USSR considered Poland to be part of its sphere of influence, so invading meant Hitler could face a war on two fronts - Britain and France in the west and the USSR in the east - which was one of the main reasons Germany had lost the First World War.

Question 3

When did Hitler and Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 3

23 August 1939

Question 4

What was in the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Germany? (3)

Answer 4

• Hitler could invade Poland without facing a war on two fronts. Britain and France had promised to protect Poland, but the USSR would not interfere
• Britain and France would now face war with Germany without the USSR as their ally
• The USSR had a massive army, which would no longer be a threat to Germany

Question 5

What was in the Nazi-Soviet Pact for the USSR? (5)

Answer 5

• Stalin felt Britain and France had snubbed him by leaving him out of the Munich Conference and he thought they were being weak by appeasing Hitler. He realised he could not trust them to help protect the USSR if Hitler invaded
• Britain and France had sent minor diplomats with no real authority to meet with Stalin. Hitler had sent a senior Nazi; he seemed to respect the USSR
• Hitler agreed that Stalin would be given Polish territory. Stalin would not even have to send troops
• Stalin feared that Hitler would invade the USSR, but he was not ready to fight. Becoming allies bought him time to prepare
• Land in Poland would act as a buffer zone if Hitler did decide to invade the USSR

Question 6

When was the invasion of Poland?

Answer 6

1st September 1939

Question 7

Invasion of Poland, 1939 (2)

Answer 7

The Nazi-Soviet Pact meant that Britain and France realised that the policy of appeasement had failed. They had already agreed to protect Poland if Hitler invaded, and now they formalised this agreement; war seemed inevitable. Without the threat of war on two fronts, Hitler felt confident enough to invade Poland.
- 1 September 1939: a German battleship attacked Danzig and the German army and Luftwaffe descended on Poland
- 3 September 1939: the British sent an ultimatum - Hitler must leave Poland by 11:00am or Britain would declare war. Hitler sent no reply, so Britain, followed by France, declared war. Poland was overrun within four weeks, and Hitler thought Britain and France would back down. He was wrong.

Question 8

Within 4 weeks, Hitler successfully took all of Poland. What 3 things did this break?

Answer 8

• The TOV
• The Nazi-Soviet Pact
• The ultimatum from France and GB

Question 9

What was the Pact of Steel?

Answer 9

A formal pact signed in 1939 joining Germany, Italy and Japan as three allies in World War Two

Question 10

Which 3 countries signed the Pact of Steel in 1939?

Answer 10

• Germany
• Italy
• Japan

Question 11

Nazi Soviet Pact (summarised - 4)

Answer 11

• 1939
• They promised to invade Poland and split it between themselves
• They promised that they would not attack each other
• This was a non-aggression