The Nazi- Soviet pack Flashcards
(19 cards)
What was Germany’s motivation for signing the Pact
Hitler wanted to invade Poland and take back more land that had been taken away from Germany in 1919
Why did Hitler want the pact in place before invading Poland
The USSR considered Poland to be a part of its sphere of influence and invading it could mean a war on 2 fronts: Britain and France in the west and USSR in the east - one of the reasons why it lost the First World War
Who signed the Nazi- Soviet Pact
Hitler and Stalin
When was the Pact signed
23 August 1939
The Nazi-Soviet Pact- what was in it for Germany?
- Hitler could invade Poland without facing a war on 2 fronts. (Britain and France had promised to protect Poland. USSR would not interfere).
- Britain and France would now face War with Germany without USSR as an ally
3.USSR’s massive army would no longer be a threat to Germany
Why did Russia sign the Pact?
1.Stalin felt snubbed by Britain and France
2.Stalin did not trust Britain and France to help protect Russia if Hitler invaded.
3.Stalin felt Britain and France did not respect him.
4.Hitler secretly agreed to give Stalin half of Poland without Russia having to send any troops.
5. Stalin was not ready for war with Germany
6. Owning land in Poland would act as a buffer zone if Hitler did decide to invade Russia.
When did Germany invade Poland?
01 September 1939
How did Germany’s invasion of Poland begin?
A German battleship attacked Danzig and the German army and Luftwaffe descended on Poland.
What emboldened Germany to invade Poland?
The Pact made Britain and France realise the policy of appeasement had failed.
Britain and France had already agreed to protect Poland if Hitler invaded.
Without the threat of war on 2 fronts, Hitler felt confident enough to invade Poland.
What was Britain’s response to the invasion of Poland?
3rd September 2019 (2 days after the invasion), the British sent and ultimatum- Hitler must leave Poland by 11:00am or Britain would declare war. Hitler sent no reply so Britain declared war, followed by France.
How long did it take to conquer Poland?
4 weeks. Hitler thought Britain and France would back down but they did not.
Was the signing of the Nazi- Soviet Pact the main reason for the outbreak of the Second World War? How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer
Consider the following:
Signing of the Pact allowed hitler to invade Poland without facing a war on two fronts.This was the short-term cause of war.
Other factors could include Appeasement. Hitler’s foreign policy, Treaty of Versailles (See further cards)
Did Appeasement result in the start of the War?
Britain and France could have prevented the rise of Hitler when he remilitarised the Rhineland, but instead they appeased him which gave him confidence to carry on his road to war. - Missed opportunity to stop hitler
People all over Europe were desperate to avoid repeating the horrors of the First World War.
Chamberlin made a mistake in trusting Hitler - was Chamberlin to blame
Munich Agreement alienated Stalin.
Did Hitler’s foreign policy result in war
Lebensraum - taking land such as the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia and Poland meant that Hitler could invade other countries which was an act of war
Was the treaty of Versailles a cause of the War?
The treaty was very harsh and forced Germany to take total blame for starting the First World War. This meant many Germans felt sympathy for what Hitler was trying to achieve.
Germany was forced to accept total blame for starting the First World War and pay millions in reparations. It lost a lot of land, include the Suhr, which contained most of Germany’s coal mines.
Hitler promised to “Right the wrong of the Treaty”
Britain felt Hitler should be allowed to overturn the Treaty so didn’t intervene to prevent events such as Anschluss at first.
Hitler was determined to create new states or re-establish old ones such as Poland and Czechoslovakia where many Germans were living.
Why did Stalin feel snubbed by Britain and France?
Both countries left him out of the Munich conference and he thought they were being weak by appeasing Hitler.
Why did Stalin feel disrespected by Britain and France?
Britain and France sent minor diplomats to meet Stalin - he had been insulted. Hitler had sent a senior Nazi; he seemed to have more respect of the USSR.
Was Russia ready for war if Stalin did not agree to the Pact?
No. Stalin did not trust Hitler. He suspected he would invade USSR but he wasn’t ready to send troops so the pact would provide time for him to build his own army. So, better to be an ally than be invaded.
What did Britain and France do with their promise to Poland after the Pact was signed?
After the Pact was signed Britain and France formalised their agreement with Poland.
