Poland and the Outbreak of War

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Poland and the Outbreak of War
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I have no other territorial claims after this

• Obvious now that Hitlers promises were worthless
• Britain and France forced to plan for war
• Poland seemed likely to be his next target

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I have no other territorial claims after this

• Germany was separated from Prussia from the
  Polish corridor created after Versailles so
  that both Poland and Germany could use it to have
  access to the sea
• Poland had also received territory which was
  German and had industry, the Poles were the
  majority here now. The Polish settlement was
  resented by the Germans

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German seizure of Memel

• In March 1939, Hitler turned on Lithuania, he
  demanded the return of Memel, bordering East
  Prussia
• Lithuania was in no position to resist

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German seizure of Memel

• Hitler also renewed demands on Poland to hand
  over Danzig and sign an anti-Soviet pact
• Poland would not meet these demands and Hitler
  started another propaganda campaign about
  persecuted Germans

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British and French Guarantees to Poland

• Britain and France announced that it would give
  Poland help if Germany attacked
• Hitler accused the allies of building up
  armaments and encircling Germany
• Britain and France did not react to Hitlers
  hostile tactics by negotiation instead they
  signed the Mutual Assistance Treaty

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Italy Annexes Albania

• Mussolini felt that the climate was right for
  aggression and invaded Albania
• This was intended to show Italys independence of
  Germany but Mussolini found himself in need of
  Germany after a hostile reaction from Britain and
  France

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Italy Annexes Albania

• In May 1939 the Pact of steel was signed
  replacing the less binding Axis with an agreement
  of mutual assistance, Mussolini had been
  reassured by Hitlers promise of 4 or 5 years of
  peace- another promise broken

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Anglo-French talks with the USSR

• The British and French opened negotiations with
  the Russians on 16th April
• They wanted Russia to guarantee Poland but Russia
  wanted more- mutual assisstance
• This was seen as Russia attempting to meddle in
  internal affairs of its neighbours

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The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

• In theory an agreement between these countries
  would have been impossible- hatred of Communism
• However Hitler had to avoid a war on two fronts
  and Stalin was suspicious of anti-bolshevist
  Britain and France

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The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

• As negotiations failed with the allies, Germany
  stepped in and on 23 August 1939 the Pact was
  signed
• Russia would remain neutral if Germany attacked
  Poland and would be split between the two powers

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Hitlers last offer to Britain

• 27th August Hitler sent an offer
• Germany and Britain should make a peace Pact
• Germany should receive Danzig although Poland can
  use the port
• Polands borders guaranteed

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Hitlers last offer to Britain

• Germanys colonies to be returned
• Germans living in Poland would be guaranteed
  protection
• The British empire would be guaranteed

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Britains Reaction

• Raised hope in Britain to avert war, Chamberlain
  continued to believe in appeasement
• Hitler however then demanded that in 24 hrs a
  Polish negotiator with full powers to agree to
  terms be sent
• Britain rejected this as unreasonable

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War

• August 31st SS soldiers dressed in Polish
  uniforms attacked a German radio station near the
  border, they left behind the bodies of criminals
  dressed in the uniforms
• Germany then attacked Poland, doubting that the
  allies would react
• On 3rd September the British sent an ultimatum to
  Germany, soon Europe was at war
• About 54 million people died including Mussolini
  and Hitler

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The steps to war 1936 - 39

• Civil War in Spain
• Re-occupation of the Rhineland
• Anschluss with Austria
• Sudetenland crisis
• Hitler takes over rest of Czechoslovakia
• Italy and Germany form pact of Steal
• Nazi-Soviet Pact
• Germany invades Poland