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Prelude to War: Czechoslovakia and Poland (March-September 1939)

Explore the events leading to WWII, including the Munich Agreement, Czechoslovakia's annexation, Hitler's motives, and the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Understand Britain and France's responses before Poland's invasion. Delve into the geopolitical tensions that shaped the conflict.

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Prelude to War: Czechoslovakia and Poland (March-September 1939)

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  1. The road to war The final steps Czechoslovakia and Poland March to September 1939

  2. Aims of the lesson By the end of this lesson you will • Understand the reasons why the Munich agreement failed • Evaluate the preparations that Britain and France made for war between March and September 1939 • Analyse the reasons why Hitler attacked Poland in September 1939 and the response of Britain and France

  3. Background • September 1938 – Sudetenland given over to Germany without a shot being fired • Chamberlain and Hitler agreed never to go to war with each other and Hitler promised that did not want to conquer anywhere else • Many critics in England – Churchill etc • The remaining Czech lands were helpless and there for the taking

  4. The end of Czechoslovakia • October 1938 – Poland took a part of Czechoslovakia – no action taken • 1939 – the Slovaks demanded more rights and appealed to Hitler for help • In March 1939 the Czechs had no choice but to invite the Germans in • 15th March – Hitler marched into Prague and Czechoslovakia disappeared for the map

  5. The end of appeasement • The annexation of Czechoslovakia changed Chamberlains attitude to Hitler • Hitler could not justify this invasion as writing a wrong from Versailles • Made Chamberlain look stupid – Hitler shown to be an aggressor who could not be trusted • Chamberlain began to build up the army and introduced conscription

  6. Poland – the next target • Hitler then ceased Memel from Lithuania – putting pressure on Poland which split Germany in two • German people also lived in Danzig which had been taken from Germany in the ToV • Britain and France promised to help Poland if she was attacked by Germany but could not really help her – only the USSR could do this

  7. The Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 • Poland not prepared to accept help from the USSR who she feared as much as Germany • Hitler hated the USSR – had said that he would wipe it off the face of the earth • 23rd August 1939 – Hitler signed a non aggression pact with the USSR. • A major shock to everyone

  8. Both countries agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland between them • The Polish clauses were a secret • Hitler was sure that this would stop France and Britain declaring war over Poland • Most people had expected Stalin to sign a pact with Britain but he ran out of patience • This left the way open for Hitler to invade Poland as a matter of urgency

  9. 1st September 1939 - Poland • Germany invaded Poland on the 1st September 1939 – staged a polish “invasion” to justify it • Chamberlain tried to convene a peace conference but failed • 3rd September – Britain declared war on Germany followed by France • Soviets invaded Poland on the 17th September – Britain and France could do nothing about it

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