Appeasement and the Road To War Poland and the Outbreak of War 1939

Aims  To identify the reasons why there was tension between Germany and Poland.  To examine why there was a change in British/French policy by 1939.

Czechoslovakia  15 th March 1939 German troops marched into Czechoslovakia.  It was clear that Hitler’s word could not be trusted and his aims were not restricted to creating a ‘Greater Germany.  Britain and France were forced to accept the need to plan for an imminent war.

Poland 1939

German Grievances Over Poland  Under the Versailles Treaty, West Prussia was given to Poland to provide access to the sea – ‘Polish Corridor’. Over 1 million Germans were under Polish rule  Contained the port of Danzig, a ‘free city’ which both countries could use.  Part of Silesia with its important mining industry was also given to Poland. The population of this areas with a mix of Germans and Poles

German-Polish Relations  1934 a non-aggression Pact was signed between Germany/Poland.  At the end of 1938 Germany demanded the return of Danzig and the right to build a German controlled road/railway across the Polish Corridor – Poland refused.  March 1939 Hitler demanded the return of Memel, a city with a substantial German population from Lithuania. This small country was in no position to resist Hitler’s demands.  Germany then renewed her demands for Danzig and claimed German minorities in Poland were being persecuted.  On the 31 st March 1939 Britain announced that it would give Poland all the help it could in the event of a German attack. The French joined them in this guarantee.  How could Poland be protected from a German attack.

Anglo-French Talks With the USSR  April 1939 British and French began negotiations with the Russians.  Russia was the only country that was close enough to help Poland.  Chamberlain distrusted the Soviet Union and doubted whether they could provide effective military help.  The Russians wanted a strong military alliance with Britain and France and they wanted to have the right to intervene if any neighbouring countries suffered a takeover by Fascist politicians.  Britain and France were suspicious of this and believed this would help the Soviet Union to spread communist ideas.  By the summer of 1939 talks between all three countries had achieved nothing.

The Outbreak of War Aims: To identify the chain of events leading to the outbreak of war. To examine why British Government policy towards Hitler had changed by 1939.

Timeline of Events 31 st March 1939 British government offers guarantee of assistance to Poland. April 1939 Britain and France attempt to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union to defend Poland May 1939 ‘Pact of Steel’ signed between Germany and Italy.

Timeline of Events 23 rd August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact 25 th August 1939 Treaty of Alliance between Britain and Poland 25 th -31 st August 1939 Hitler ‘attempts’ to reach a peace settlement.

Timeline of Events 1 st September 1939 Germany invades Poland after provoking a border incident. 3 rd September 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact  Europe was shocked by the signing of this pact given Hitler’s hatred of Communism.  Hitler was trying to avoid a war on two fronts and avoid the mistakes of  Stalin was suspicious of Britain/France and perhaps wanted to gain time for the Soviet Union to prepare for war.  The pact had secret clauses – USSR would remain neutral if Poland was attacked and Poland would be divided between the two powers.

Hitler’s Last Offer to Britain  On the 25 th August 1939 a Treaty of Alliance was signed between Britain and Poland.  Two days later on the 27 th August a new offer reached London.  Germany and Britain would make a peace pact.  Germany would secure Danzig and the Polish corridor.  Poland’s frontiers would be guaranteed as would the rights of Germans living in Poland.  Hitler demanded a Polish negotiator be sent to Berlin in 24 hours with the power to make an agreement.

Had Hitler Hoped To Avoid War?  Plans for invasion had been in place since April  Offers of negotiation to Britain in late August 1939 were more likely for propaganda effect than with genuine intention - keep the German public on side.  He probably thought Britain would not risk war over Poland.  Perhaps he had possibly expected a more limited rather than a world war. However he miscalculated British and French determination.

A Change in British Government Policy Throughout the 1920s/1930s the British government had avoided making any military commitments in Eastern Europe, so why did the government change their mind over Poland?

A Change in British Government Policy  Still aimed to avoid war and settle German-Polish problems by negotiation.  Aimed to negotiate from a position of greater strength.  Fate of Czechoslovakia raised peoples’ awareness of the threat posed by Hitler.  Britain’s military position was much stronger by early  Reports suggested that Hitler was not ready for a major war.  There was more likelihood of Dominion support (British Empire).