1. Hitler and Immediate Causes
1939

2. Munich Conference

3. Mussolini, Hitler, Daladier, Chamberlain

4. Results of Munich Hitler put Europe on the brink of war
Aggressor, Britain and France sough peace
Clear Poland would be next
Britain and France issue another warning
Appeasement was at an end
Britain and France unaware Germany has been meeting with Soviet Union

5. Results of Munich One of the most controversial agreements in history
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Agreed not to attack one another, secretly agreed to divide Poland
Short-term benefit for Hitler, no risk of a two-front war
Would gain staging area for future invasion of Soviet Union

6. Cartoon Analysis

7. Why Did Germany Sign? Hitler wanted to avoid a war on two fronts
Did not believe Britain and France would intervene if he allied with Stalin
Economic aid from USSR would negate impact of Anglo- French blockage
Hitler would deal with the West before the Soviet Union

8. Why Did USSR Sign?
USSR would not have to get involved in a war in the West
Already faced a threat from Japan in the East, Army had been weakened by Stalin’s purges
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
Stalin would gain half of Poland and opportunity to take Finland and Baltic States
Germany was still the USSR’s major trading partner

9. The Invasion of Poland Most immediate cause of WWII
Poland had been created after WWI, given land corridor through former German territory
Danzig was meant to be a free city for Poles to use
Knew this would cause future tension, Germans never accepted it
Nazis came to power there after Hitler

10. The Invasion of Poland Poland was also threatened by the Soviets
1920, Red Army had invaded and attempted to consolidate control of Eastern Europe
Poles had rallied at Warsaw, key for national identity, important so that they not make concessions in 1939
Hitler demanded Danzig in 1939, Poles respond by mobilizing
March 1939, Britain and France guarantee support
Saw the issue as between German ambition and Polish determination to defend themselves
Hitler invades September 1, war declared
Maybe not the enemies he had envisioned

11. Appeasement British policy throughout 1930s May have encouraged Hitler
Further alienated the USSR
Stalin thought it was meant to start conflict between him and Germany
Hitler gambled on this with Poland
Was Hitler acting or reacting?
The fault Hitler’s or other European statesmen?
Case against appeasement
With more territory, Germany became better defended, had more soldiers, workers, materials, industry
Britain had not even prepared by 1939
Had led to Nazi-Soviet Pact

12. Justification for Appeasement
Shaped foreign policy since WWII
Situation was complex for Chamberlain though
British economy down, rearmament difficult
Memories of WWI
People had to want war
Hitler’s demands were seen as just revision of Versailles
Many thought it was too harsh
Munich was the end

13. Chamberlain Thought there were three key issues to be resolved
Territorial grievances
Economic problems
Absence of raw materials
Appeasement would lead to a more moderate Germany, which would benefit the world
Himself, did not believe in peace at any price
Would not have been prepared to fight Hitler in 1930s

14. France France took the lead from Britain, could not have acted alone
Rhineland had not been policed effectively
Focused on rebuilding of Maginot Line
Government was suffering internal division
Thought military response may build support for Nazis
Overall, fears of communism did not help, Hitler may have been lesser of two evils