✓ The reasons for the German invasion of Poland in 1939 - CHANGE IN RELATIONS AFTER 1936 (not incl notes) Flashcards
What did Poland expect Fr to do after the Nazis remilitarised the Rhineland?
+ when was this?
P gov expected Fr to fight to drive the G troops out & so offered Fr help under the terms of the 1921 Mutual Assistance Pact w Fr BUT Fr didn’t send troops in
+
1936 G remilitarised the Rhineland
What was the impact of Fr not sending troops into the Rhineland?
- Poland exposed itself as willing to fight G
- Fr had shown itself as unwilling to fight, as did Br & the LofN
- H became more confident abt pressing for what he wanted by force
What happened to relations between G & P after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
Cz was the next logical conquest SO H continued negotiations w P instead of attacking
- P made an agreement w G to guarantee the rights of Gs in P & vice versa
BUT P still unwilling to become a satellite state
What countries had Hitler taken without resistance?
Austria 1938
&
remains of Cz 1939
- exploited events in both countries to march in & take over = displaying opportunism at exact moment of takeover even if had been preparing to use force
How did H test Poland’s obedience?
agreed to P getting Teschen when Cz divided up in 1939
BUT
alliance terms included P joining the Anti-Comintern Pact (would undoubtedly lead to Soviet invasion)
Did Hungary & Poland join H’s Anti-Comintern Pact?
Hungary did = remained an independent satellite
BUT
Poland didn’t = H’s litmus test of obedience (technically offering peaceful alliance but p could never accept)
What 2 treaties did H sign that strengthened his position before WW2 & when?
Pact of Steel - 22 May 1939
+
the Nazi-Soviet Pact - 23 August 1939
What was the Pact of Steel?
between Italy & Germany
- committed both sides to close econ ties & mutual military aid
Why did H in particular want the Pact of Steel?
H had previously feared Mussolini wouldn’t support him militarily
(prbly why he didn’t invade Cz in 1938 bc M urged him to negotiate)
- Pact of Steel meant he could now rely on Italy’s military support
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
between the USSR & Germany
- temporary allies on both sides of Poland
- shifted the balance of power in Eastern Europe
Who was critical of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
the press in Br, Fr, USA
- dismissive of its sincerity
- mocked that two politicians who had criticised each other for years acted as if it was possible to work together
What was the secret clause in the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
secret clause not revealed by the signatories of the Pact
- G & USSR agreed to invade Poland + divide it between them
Did H believe that Br & Fr would save Poland?
NO - Br & Fr had a guarantee to support polish independence BUT both backed down when H invaded Cz + no evidence of Br & Fr rearming more rapidly/ introducing conscription/ sending troops/equipment to Poland
1 Sept 1939 G troops invaded Poland
- 3 Sept Br & Fr declared war on G (too late to save Poland)
