Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Hitler and Immediate Causes 1939 S Munich Conference Mussolini, Hitler, Daladier, Chamberlain Results of Munich S Hitler put Europe on the brink of war S Aggressor, Britain and France sough peace S Clear Poland would be next S Britain and France issue another warning S Appeasement was at an end S Britain and France unaware Germany has been meeting with Soviet Union Results of Munich S One of the most controversial agreements in history S Nazi-Soviet Pact S Agreed not to attack one another, secretly agreed to divide Poland S Short-term benefit for Hitler, no risk of a two-front war S Would gain staging area for future invasion of Soviet Union Cartoon Analysis Why Did Germany Sign? S Hitler wanted to avoid a war on two fronts S Did not believe Britain and France would intervene if he allied with Stalin S Economic aid from USSR would negate impact of Anglo- French blockage S Hitler would deal with the West before the Soviet Union Why Did USSR Sign? S USSR would not have to get involved in a war in the West S Already faced a threat from Japan in the East, Army had been weakened by Stalin’s purges S Gave Stalin time to prepare for war, always hope that Germany and the West would weaken each other in the war and USSR would be left strongest S Stalin would gain half of Poland and opportunity to take Finland and Baltic States S Germany was still the USSR’s major trading partner The Invasion of Poland S Most immediate cause of WWII S Poland had been created after WWI, given land corridor through former German territory S Danzig was meant to be a free city for Poles to use S Knew this would cause future tension, Germans never accepted it S Nazis came to power there after Hitler The Invasion of Poland S Poland was also threatened by the Soviets S 1920, Red Army had invaded and attempted to consolidate control of Eastern Europe S Poles had rallied at Warsaw, key for national identity, important so that they not make concessions in 1939 S Hitler demanded Danzig in 1939, Poles respond by mobilizing S March 1939, Britain and France guarantee support S S Saw the issue as between German ambition and Polish determination to defend themselves Hitler invades September 1, war declared S Maybe not the enemies he had envisioned Appeasement S British policy throughout 1930s S May have encouraged Hitler S Further alienated the USSR S Stalin thought it was meant to start conflict between him and Germany Hitler gambled on this with Poland S S Was Hitler acting or reacting? S The fault Hitler’s or other European statesmen? S Case against appeasement S With more territory, Germany became better defended, had more soldiers, workers, materials, industry S Britain had not even prepared by 1939 S Had led to Nazi-Soviet Pact Justification for Appeasement S Shaped foreign policy since WWII S Situation was complex for Chamberlain though S British economy down, rearmament difficult S Memories of WWI S People had to want war S Hitler’s demands were seen as just revision of Versailles S Many thought it was too harsh S Munich was the end Chamberlain S Thought there were three key issues to be resolved S Territorial grievances S Economic problems S Absence of raw materials S Appeasement would lead to a more moderate Germany, which would benefit the world S Himself, did not believe in peace at any price S Would not have been prepared to fight Hitler in 1930s France S France took the lead from Britain, could not have acted alone S Rhineland had not been policed effectively S Focused on rebuilding of Maginot Line S Government was suffering internal division S Thought military response may build support for Nazis S Overall, fears of communism did not help, Hitler may have been lesser of two evils