Hitlers foreign actions 1939 Flashcards
What happened in March 1939?
The German occupation of Czechoslovakia
What is some context about the German occupation?
After the Sudetenland had been transferred back to Germany after the Munich agreement, the rest of the state of Czechoslovakia started to break up.
Czechoslovakia remained a country that was rich in agriculture, industry, and resources that Hitler wanted.
What happened during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia?
In March 1939 he made his strike. President Hacha of Czechoslovakia was bullied into placing the fortunes of his country into the German Reich and Germany then occupied Prague on 15 March 1939.
Before this every territorial change could have been justified by self-determination, however, this had never been German land.
Hitler was making new territory just to increase the power of Germany. There were no Germans living in this newly acquired land.
What was the British-France Polish Guarantee?
It meant that if Poland would have protection from Britain and France if Germany ever invaded and they would declare war on Germany.
What happened in August 1939?
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
What were the details of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
One of Hitler’s most surprising Foreign policies was in August 1939 called the Nazi-Soviet Pact or the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Publicly it was announced as a 10-year non-aggression pact. Privately, however, it contained clauses relating to the future partition of Poland.
Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact surprising?
Russia and Germany had two completely different ideologies, fascism, and communism. Hitler had never made his hatred for communism a secret in Mein Kampf; he had argued the destruction of Soviet Russia.
Why did this agreement make sense for both Germany and the USSR?
Germany wanted to ensure that when he invaded Poland that Soviet Russia would not stop him while he dealt with Britain and France. Stalin hoped that an Anglo-French/German war would last many years and wanted to buy time to strengthen his defenses and build up his military. Stalin also feared a war on two fronts due to Japan.
What happened in September 1939?
The German-Soviet invasion of Poland.
Why was Poland a target for Germany?
Poland was recreated by the Treaty of Versailles Settlement.
Poland included territory that had been part of Germany prior to 1919 such as West Prussia.
The Polish corridor separated East Prussia from the main bulk of German Territory.
Danzig, located in the Polish Corridor, was populated mainly by Germans.
Why was Poland a target for the USSR?
It would allow the USSR to be an ally to Germany and Poland is that tool.
Why did was it reasonable for Hitler not to expect Britain and France to declare war?
They had allowed him to do everything else so this came as sort of a surprise. All of this time Britain and France had appeased him in everything he did and there were no consequences.
