Download The Nazi-Soviet Pact

The Nazi-Soviet Pact
What did Hitler Want?
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After the destruction of
Czechoslovakia, it was clear that
Poland was Hitler’s next target.
Hitler had obvious claims on
parts of Poland Germany had
lost in the T of V. He wanted
these back.
Lebensraum
Despite all this the Poles enjoyed
a friendly relationship with Hitler,
and at first they found it hard to
take his threats seriously. They
tried to keep away from both
Germany and the Soviet Union.
Hitler could not be sure the
Soviet Union would allow this he
needed a truce.
Britain’s Promise.
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Britain made a guarantee to
preserve the independence of
Poland this lulled them into a false
sense of security, in fact there was
little they could do to stop a
German invasion +
Internationalism Vs. Nationalism.
Discussions between GB, France
and the Soviet Union took place in
August 1939 but collapsed because
of distrust between the two sides +
the Poles would not let Soviet
troops enter their land in advance
of a German invasion.
The Soviet Union thought Britain
and France would be happy to sit
back and watch them fight their
war.
The terms of the pact
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On the 23rd of August 1939 the
foreign ministers of Germany
and the Soviet union meet in
Moscow-Molotov and
Ribbentrop. They agreed a nonaggression pact. In secret they
also had agreed to divide Poland
up between themselves.
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Fascist Germany and
communist Soviet union gave
every appearance of being bitter
enemies. Nobody thought that
this made any difference to their
mutual hatred, so why did they
agree to sign the pact?
What was the importance of the pact?
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The pact fulfilled what Hitler
had wanted it to do, leave
Britain and France to fight
alone.
When Britain signed the pact
with Poland, Hitler almost had
second thoughts as he did not
think they would go to war over
Poland. This time they could
not back down in the face of
Nazi aggression.
If they did it would signal to the
world that they were no longer a
major power Crucially however
unlike 1938, a policy of rearmament meant Britain would
be ready for war.
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It only took a few days for
Hitler to regain his nerve he
ordered Poland be invaded
by the 1st of September.
When he finally ignored
Britain’s ultimatum to call off
the attack they declared war
on the 3rd of September.
Within 3 weeks due to the
Blitzkrieg Poland had been
defeated. Soviet forces then
attacked from the east
Advantages
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For Germany:
Hitler could invade Poland
without the worry of the
Soviet Union
He would achieve what he
wanted in terms of foreign
policy.
There would be no alliance
between the Soviet Union
and Britain to prevent
Germany carrying out their
plans.
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For Stalin:
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They would not be drawn
into a war with Germany
They would not have to ally
with Britain.
The Soviet Union would also
regain land lost in wars in the
1920’s.
It gave Stalin time to regroup
his armies for the eventual
war with Germany.
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Questions
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Why do you think Germany and the Soviet
Union signed the Nazi Soviet Pact?
This British cartoon of 1939
shows Hitler and Stalin.
This British cartoon of 1939 shows Hitler and Stalin.
What elements indicate that they are allied?
What indicates that the alliance is not likely to last?
What elements indicate that
they are allied?
What indicates that the alliance
is not likely to last?
What do the storm clouds in the background symbolise?
What does the dead figure between them represent
What do the storm clouds in
the background symbolise?
What does the dead figure
between them represent
This British cartoon of
1939 shows Hitler and
Stalin.
What elements indicate
that they are allied?
What indicates that the
alliance is not likely to
last?