Immediate causes of WW II

Hitler’s actions put Europe on the brink of war Hitler’s actions put Europe on the brink of war. It was clear that Poland would be his next target. Britain and France failed to response to the takeover of Czechoslovaquia, but now they warned Germany that an invasion to Poland would mean war. During the summer of 1939, Stalin met with the German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop and they signed the most controversial agreement, the Nazi-Soviet pact. Two ideological enemies agreed not to attack each other and secretly they divided Poland. This pact was a strategy that would allow Germany to invade Poland avoiding a two-war front. (see chart and cartoon on page 121)

INVASION OF POLAND The Poles were given a corridor to the sea separating Germany form the important port of Danzig and from East Prussia, both sides knew this would cause tension in the future since the Germans never accepted it. The Danzig was a “free city” under the supervision of the League, which meant Poland could use it. Poland was also threatened by the USSR since it was given more territory in the east than it had before. In 1920, the Red Army invaded this new country but Poland managed to defeat the Soviet Union. This victory made the country grew its new sense of national identity and they were determined not to make concessions to either the Soviets or the Germans.

November 1938 – Hitler ordered his armed forces to prepare a plan to seize Danzig. Early 1939 – Hitler was demanding the city’s return. March 1939 – Chamberlain announced that Britain and France would guarantee Poland’s independence. April 1939 – Hitler ordered preparations for the invasion. July 1939 – Poland was confident and prepared for engagement. August 24th 1939 – Germany and USSR signed the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. (also known as Nazi-Soviet Pact or Non-aggression Pact) September 1st 1939 – Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France had to keep their Word and declared war on Germany.

APPEASEMENT AS A CAUSE OF WORLD WAR II It was a policy followed principally by Britain in which a country was given concessions in order to settle international disputes. Stalin believed that this policy was designed to allow for German expansion in the East and to promote a conflict between the Nazis and the Soviet since Hitler was, consistently and continuously, given his demands. A.J.P. Taylor (an English historian) argued that WW II was not totally Hitler’s war and defends his position with the following arguments: 1. Even though Mein Kampf, Hitler’s speeches and his writings showed evidence of expansionism, this doesn’t mean he had a plan about what to do once in power. 2. He also stated that Hitler was no acting but rather reacting to the actions of the European leaders. 3. Finally he also mentioned that Hitler’s success on dismantling the Treaty of Versailles was the fault of the European leaders who failed to contain Germany.

CAN APPEASEMENT BE JUSTIFIED AT ALL? Many saw the betrayal of Czechoslovakia at Munich (Munich Agreement) as one of the most dishonorable act of Britain. The Appeasement Policy led the USSR to look for an agreement with Germany. CAN APPEASEMENT BE JUSTIFIED AT ALL? It was viewed as a coward policy that facilitated the aggression of expansionist states. When British cabinet minutes became available 30-40 years after WW II, it was clear that the situation of Chamberlain was complicated: 1. Britain was not prepared economically. 2. There was little support to engage in another conflicts, the horrors of WW I still haunted many Europeans. 3. Many British always saw the Treaty of Versailles as too harsh towards Germany.

Throughout the west there was fear of communism Throughout the west there was fear of communism. Hitler was seen (by many leaders) as the “lesser of two evils”. It was hoped that Hitler would stop the spread of communism.