Poland Flashcards
why was there anti-Polish resentment amongst German people?
- the TofV had created the Polish corridor which split Germany from East Prussia, something heavily resented by the German people
- 800,000 Germans were left in Poland after the TofV
why was Poland in a difficult position in Europe?
- was geographically placed between both Germany and the USSR (two nations how wanted to expand)
- had poor infrastructure (lack of coordination between communications and railways)
- a German population of 800,000 and so a reason for the Nazis to invade Poland
why was Poland’s pact with France seen as weak?
France made the same pact with Czechoslovakia but did not fulfil it when she was invaded by Germany due to lack of support from the LoN and Britain
why can Poland also be seen as a powerful independent nation?
had an army proportional to it’s population which was expanding and developing with technology (tanks in 1939)
it had pushed for expansion itself with land in Ukraine in 1920 (through a war against the USSR)
why did Hitler and the Nazis want to pursue a pact with Poland very early on?
they wanted to secure peace to allow Germany to re-arm and prepare for war at the turn of the decade
by forming the non-aggression pact wit Poland in 1934, Poland could not join the USSR and thus a war against Germany so early was unlikely
what does Hitler’s non-aggression pact with Poland show him to be?
a careful planner who sought the concept of rearmament early on (something which could only occur in peacetime)
on what levels was the inconvenience created by the polish corridor and the difficulty in access to Danzig?
political
social
religious
how did Nazi FP hope to use Poland?
there were discussions in the late 1930s to propose an alliance between the two nations
the idea of a joint war against the USSR was proposed
why did the Polish resist a further relationship with Nazi Germany?
they didnt want to damage relationships with the USSR
Poland wanted to maintain a balance in terms of its relationship with the USSR and Germany in the hope of not being attacked by either nation
what was the Polish response to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
the Polish govt offered military support
expected France to go to war with Germany over the breaking of the TofV
France did not…
what was the Polish and French response to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland show Germany?
showed Poland as willing to fight against Germany
showed the French, British and the LoN as unwilling to fight Germany
why was German patience with Poland running out?
they were still unwilling to be a German satellite state?
how did events in Austria and Czechoslovakia change Hitler’s view on Poland?
Hitler had been an opportunist when it came to invading both Austria and Czechoslovakia and was met with limited resistance from the Western Powers
he now saw how force could also be used to invade and take Poland
what did Hitler offer Poland after Czechoslovakia was invaded?
Teschen
and offer to join the Anti-Comintern Pact
why was Hitler’s offer to Poland to join the anti-Comintern pact significant?
Hitler can be seen to be testing the loyalty of Poland
if they did join, then war with the USSR was far less likely
HOWEVER
Poland wanted to remain on good terms with both Germany and the USSR
