Causes of the Second World War and the Fate of Poland
In any book about European history, the 1939 named as a «year, when the world came back to war» or something like that. In all chronologies, except for those that were once released in the USSR, this year marks “the beginning of the Second world war”.[1]
However, by this time the war was pacing the world for 8 years. The Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931 and fought a war in Central China from 1937. From August 1938 they had pulled the rest of the countries. Two years before that, at the insistence of Churchill, England decided to enlarge and re-equip its air force. Thanks to this decision, England in the future will survive. At the same time, France has created a new Ministry of defence and nationalized great concern of Schneider Creusot.
It was clear that the European governments were preparing for the long war, in which the industrial power of the country will be equally decisive, as and trained troops.It was clear that Stalin and Hitler already had military machines, which no one had in the Europe. If the US had stayed away, hardly Western countries would have deterred Hitler or Stalin. If Stalin and Hitler were united, the West would not be able to stop them. The views of all were chained to Stalin and Hitler and to those unfortunate countries that became trapped between them. Everything else was secondary.
Speaking about the reasons of the Second World War, firstly, the existence of the USSR could not instill fear for Europe. In 1939, really existed the possibility that, having won the West, Hitler would turn to the USSR; but this was only one of several possible options: not the most likely and not the closest.
Should take into account at least three scenarios. Firstly, the West could, as in 1918, defeat Germany. Secondly, the West and Germany, leading to one another bloody war, could finally come to a standstill, and then the USSR without a single shot would be in Europe as arbitrator. As Goebbels imagined this game, which was conducted by the Soviets.
“Moscow intends to stay out of the war until Europe … will bleed till the end, he said. – Then Stalin will move to Europe to bolshevize it and impose there his own rule».[2]
Was another option: Stalin uses a break, given to him by Hitler’s war with the West, to prepare and deploy their own attack.
Another reason for the War was – territorial disputes, which arose after the First World War, and sometimes a lot sooner. Redivision of the world in favor of the countries-winners in the war of 1914-1918, primarily England and France, the loss of Germany and its allies significant part of their former territories, the collapse of two major European multinational empires: the Austro-Hungarian and Russian, on the ruins of which there were new nine independent States – Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the Serb-Croat-Slovene Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, with new, often contentious borders, have become a source of permanent tensions and military conflicts.
Another one was the competition between the leading powers, their desire for expansion, to the European and world hegemony. Hard to admit that erased from the world history Germany, after its defeat, did not dream of revenge. Devoid of the ability to have its army, Germany, accustomed to the role of one of the leading world empires could not accept the loss of its domination. The beginning of the World War II, in this aspect, was only a matter of time.
Generally accepted, the first victim of the beginning of the war became Poland. In early 1939, Hitler was still ready to negotiate a deal with Poland. Hitler offered to poles give Germany the right to Danzig and allows the construction of the highway Berlin-Koenigsberg on the Polish territory, and in exchange they could enter in useful for them political and economic Alliance directed against the USSR.[3] Hidden threat was clear. If the poles are so ‘stupid’ that they will refuse, then Hitler will take Danzig anyways, after which it will seek political and economic Union with the USSR against Poland.
Yet, the Fuhrer languished in anticipation, as the weeks passed; Poland intentionally opened negotiations on “trade relations and good neighborly relations” with the USSR when the proposals of Berlin has been left unanswered. After the fall of Czechoslovakia, it became known that the lack of progress led the Fuhrer in anger. In March 28, Germany denounced the non-aggression Pact towards Poland. Nazi propaganda turns to the theme of Danzig and the intolerable situation of the Germans in Poland.
In March 31, England provided to Poland a guarantee of its independence. In response, Hitler on April 3 gave secret instructions of plan of the capture of Danzig and a possible war with Poland.[4]
Having certain obligations towards Poland, Western States now wanted to take some measures. In April and May, the inter-allied mission visited Warsaw. It was especially emphasized, that in case of attack of the Germans in Poland the task of the Polish army will be to deter Wehrmacht troops, while the allies will prepare a counterattack on the West.[5]
As soon as Stalin and Hitler threw the mutual suspicions and their representatives started the negotiations, they must be quickly understood what prospects opened in front of them. Due to indecision of the West, Poland remained a serious obstacle to divide Eastern Europe.
But nevertheless, the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 was not the beginning of the fighting in Europe. Before this Germans invaded Lithuania in March 1939 and the Italians invaded Albania in April.[6] But, mainly, as a result of the invasion of Poland local wars have become a part of the world conflict. As a result of the German-Soviet Pact, in Europe has developed a new geopolitical situation. Covenant transformed the European stage, which allowed Germany and the USSR to destroy Poland and restore the common border, as it existed in the nineteenth century. Then they were able to sweep away all small States, who stood on their way.
According to the German-Soviet Treaty on friendship and border between USSR and Germany, Lithuania was in the Soviet sphere in exchange for a slice of Central Poland.[7] Soon, Warsaw surrendered. The Polish government has managed to go into exile. The final capitulation took place on 4 October, the day when Hitler came to Warsaw, where he was welcomed by the full adoration by German part. All that was found to the East of the Bug River, was captured by the Soviets.
As a result of double occupation of Poland two laboratories of totalitarianism began to work side by side. Two years the Nazi and Soviet vultures with impunity lacerated the body of defeated Poland. In the German zone the Western regions were annexed by Reich and underwent intense racial selection. All other regions were included in the so-called General government under the control of the SS and the military.
This «Gestapoland»[8], which did not act neither on the Polish nor the German laws, became the proving ground of ideology of the Nazis. Only in this part of the occupied Europe to implement its Eastern policy of conquest of Lebensraüm the Nazi converters managed to apply their racial policy with all the fervor towards all the population. In the adjacent Soviet zone was staged pseudo-referendum, which was to confirm that the Western Belorussia and Western Ukraine come out in favour of a proposal for the accession to the USSR. About 40 categories of citizens, not only of the poles: from policemen ending philatelists – were subjected to immediate arrest and deportation.[9]
Another heavy blow for the Polish people was the tragic death of General Wladyslaw Sikorski. Prime Minister and commander of the Polish Armed Forces died in July 1943, in uncertain circumstances in a plane crash over Gibraltar.[10] This has occurred at a time when the fate of Poland was on the international arena. The new head of the Polish government was appointed, the politician Stanisław Mikołajczyk.
[1]Дэвис, Н. История Европы / Норман Дэвис; пер. с англ. Т.Б. Менской. — М.: ACT: Транзиткнига,
- P. .628
[2] Дэвис, Н. История Европы / Норман Дэвис; пер. с англ. Т.Б. Менской. — М.: ACT: Транзиткнига,
- P. 633
[3] Дэвис, Н. История Европы / Норман Дэвис; пер. с англ. Т.Б. Менской. — М.: ACT: Транзиткнига,
- P. 630
[4] ibid
[5] ibid
[6] Дэвис, Н. История Европы / Норман Дэвис; пер. с англ. Т.Б. Менской. — М.: ACT: Транзиткнига,
- P. 632
[7] Дэвис, Н. История Европы / Норман Дэвис; пер. с англ. Т.Б. Менской. — М.: ACT: Транзиткнига,
- P. 635
[8] ibid
[9] ibid
Desperate Pol.Scientists 