Invasion of Poland

Question 1

Hitler over-confident

Answer 1

Blomberg-Fritsch affair - Germany not ready for war
Success of Anschluss, Czechoslovakia and Sudetenland - little Allied opposition

Question 2

Poland spending on armed forces

Answer 2

half its government expenditure by mid 1930s

Question 3

Chamberlain pledged to guarantee Polish independence

Answer 3

31st March 1939
Nazis ignored
Emboldened the Poles

Question 4

Poland non-aggression pact with USSR

Answer 4

1932
German hoped they’d sign the anti-Comintern pact

Question 5

Hitler misunderstands Allied promises to defend Poland

Answer 5

Britain turned down Polish request for a loan for rearmament

Question 6

Hitler underestimated Allied readiness for war

Answer 6

English rearmament is just propaganda

Question 7

Problem - dependence on imported resources

Answer 7

Poland solution - use Polish resources - has significant raw materials

Question 8

Problem - Shortage of material for armed forces

Answer 8

Poland solution - now have control over Polish soldiers and military

Question 9

Problem - Shortage of workers

Answer 9

Poland solution - more people who are under German control - Forced labour

Question 10

Problem - decline in German living standards

Answer 10

Poland Solution - good agricultural produce

Question 11

Problem - Falling levels of support from workers

Answer 11

Poland Solution - Victory in Poland would boost morale - increased workforce would work harder

Question 12

Cut of steel supplies for military use

Answer 12

530,000 to 300,000 tonnes

Question 13

Increase in workforce needed to meet production targets

Answer 13

870%