WI: Seit 5 Uhr 45: Hitler tells the truth on 1 September 1939

Last night, for the first time, regular soldiers of the German Wehrmacht stood on Polish territory. Since 5:45 AM we have been opening fire! [Seit 5 Uhr 45 wird jetzt angeschossen!] And from now on, bomb will be met by bomb...” — Adolf Hitler to the Reichstag, September 1, 1939 ATL

What if Hitler told the truth about the invasion of Poland?

The PoD is Hitler’s speech and the associated propaganda. The M-R pact and the false-flag border provocations, including the Gleiwitz incident, occur as IOTL. But instead of claiming that Poland started the war, Hitler states openly that Germany is the aggressor.

Surely Britain and France still declare war, probably still on 3 September? Would the diplomatic process of declaring war be different? Might the Wallies have declared war on the 2nd? Would the public response to the DoW on both sides be as tepid? Is there any chance of a more aggressive Wallied response?

Later in the war, OTL, Nazi propagandists liked to say that Germany didn’t want war and that Britain and France were the real aggressors. ITTL, they would lose that angle, and they wouldn’t be able to try the same trick for Barbarossa; IOTL, both invasions were framed as counterattacks (Gegenangriffen).
 
Last night, for the first time, regular soldiers of the German Wehrmacht stood on Polish territory. Since 5:45 AM we have been opening fire! [Seit 5 Uhr 45 wird jetzt angeschossen!] And from now on, bomb will be met by bomb...” — Adolf Hitler to the Reichstag, September 1, 1939 ATL

What if Hitler told the truth about the invasion of Poland?

The PoD is Hitler’s speech and the associated propaganda. The M-R pact and the false-flag border provocations, including the Gleiwitz incident, occur as IOTL. But instead of claiming that Poland started the war, Hitler states openly that Germany is the aggressor.

Surely Britain and France still declare war, probably still on 3 September? Would the diplomatic process of declaring war be different? Might the Wallies have declared war on the 2nd? Would the public response to the DoW on both sides be as tepid? Is there any chance of a more aggressive Wallied response?

Later in the war, OTL, Nazi propagandists liked to say that Germany didn’t want war and that Britain and France were the real aggressors. ITTL, they would lose that angle, and they wouldn’t be able to try the same trick for Barbarossa; IOTL, both invasions were framed as counterattacks (Gegenangriffen).

Maybe if Churchill becomes the PM earlier this could be done. This week episode of the world war channel shows that Hitler tried to appear more reasonable with the British, even not bombing London, until it was clear that they would not cooperate with him.

If from day is it is clear that the British and the French would fight the Nazi empire to the bitter end there would be no need on his part to pretend to be a victim.
 
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