1.
In 1939, following the occupation of the whole of Czechoslovakia, in violation of the Munich Agreement, the world's focus shifted to Poland. The empires of Prussia, Russia, and to an extent Austria partitioned the land for the third and final time in 1795, effectively ending Polish-Lithuanian sovereignty until 1918. Now, the mighty German Reich were seeking to regain the territory they were so "rightfully" owed.
So, the old men in Warsaw hoped, and discreetly pleaded, that the British and French powers would stand up on their behalf. Some did support creating an alliance, but good oil Neville Chamberlain rejected any such proposition out of hand. "If we are to appease Berlin," he concluded. "Than we are not to provocate Berlin."
That August, when news came to light of a non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Germany, many feared that it would lead to an invasion of Poland. The Zandig corridor issue was ever troubling, and it was only a matter of time before one of two things were to occur: Poland would reject any demands made by Germany, and Hitler would invade, or; Poland would answer the demands made by Germany, and Hitler would annex.
But regardless, the British government was not willing to enter into an "unnecessary" alliance with such a "menial nation," to the chagrin of not only Poland but France, who were more wary of Germany, given their history. But they knew they could not enter into a conflict with Hitler without the support of Britain, which they knew was lacking. It was an unfortunate balance of power between the allies, but moralist doctrine could never trump realpolitik.
And on the first of September, the armies of those two malignant empires crossed into Poland.
In 1939, following the occupation of the whole of Czechoslovakia, in violation of the Munich Agreement, the world's focus shifted to Poland. The empires of Prussia, Russia, and to an extent Austria partitioned the land for the third and final time in 1795, effectively ending Polish-Lithuanian sovereignty until 1918. Now, the mighty German Reich were seeking to regain the territory they were so "rightfully" owed.
So, the old men in Warsaw hoped, and discreetly pleaded, that the British and French powers would stand up on their behalf. Some did support creating an alliance, but good oil Neville Chamberlain rejected any such proposition out of hand. "If we are to appease Berlin," he concluded. "Than we are not to provocate Berlin."
That August, when news came to light of a non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Germany, many feared that it would lead to an invasion of Poland. The Zandig corridor issue was ever troubling, and it was only a matter of time before one of two things were to occur: Poland would reject any demands made by Germany, and Hitler would invade, or; Poland would answer the demands made by Germany, and Hitler would annex.
But regardless, the British government was not willing to enter into an "unnecessary" alliance with such a "menial nation," to the chagrin of not only Poland but France, who were more wary of Germany, given their history. But they knew they could not enter into a conflict with Hitler without the support of Britain, which they knew was lacking. It was an unfortunate balance of power between the allies, but moralist doctrine could never trump realpolitik.
And on the first of September, the armies of those two malignant empires crossed into Poland.
