The Outbreak of War Flashcards
Why did Hitler plan to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
-This is because Hitler had threats from the west (Britain and France) and from the east (USSR). This was also one of the reason to why Germany had lost the First World War.
-Hitler had to eliminate the threat of the USSR, so on 23rd of August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed the Nazi Soviet Pact.
What were the advantages of the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Germany?
-Hitler could invade Poland without facing a war on two fronts.
-Britain and France would now face war with Germany without USSR as their ally.
-The USSR had a massive army, which would no longer be a threat to Germany.
What were the advantages of the Nazi-Soviet Pact for the USSR?
-Stalin realised that Britain and France could not help him if Hitler were to invade since they were too weak after appeasing to Hitler.
-Hitler agreed that Stalin would be given Polish territory, Stalin would not even have to send troops.
-Stalin feared Hitler would invade the USSR, but he was not ready to fight. Becoming allies brought him time to prepare.
What happened for the declaration of war to commence?
-Without any threat of war on two fronts, Hitler felt confident enough to invade Poland.
-On 1st of September 1939, a German battleship attacked Danzig and the German army and Luftwaffe descended on Poland.
-On 3rd September 1939, British sent an ultimatum, Hitler must leave Poland by 11am or Britain would declare war. Hitler sent no reply, so Britain, followed by France, declared war.
