Prelude to World War II
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The escalation of European tensions and the policy of appeasement marked the prelude to World War II. Key events include Germany's annexation of Austria, the Munich Agreement, and the occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, and the subsequent invasion of Poland, triggered the onset of the war, reshaping the political landscape of Europe.
Summary
Outline
The Prelude to World War II: European Tensions and the Policy of Appeasement
The period preceding World War II was characterized by escalating aggression from Axis powers and a policy of appeasement from Western democracies. Germany's annexation of Austria in March 1938, the Anschluss, was largely unopposed by European powers, setting a dangerous precedent. Subsequently, Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia with a significant ethnic German population. The Munich Agreement, brokered by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French leaders, ceded the Sudetenland to Germany in September 1938, in hopes of averting war. This agreement, made without Czechoslovakia's participation, failed to halt Axis expansion as Germany soon facilitated the cession of additional Czechoslovak territory to Hungary and Poland seized the Zaolzie region.Hitler's Secret Plans and the Occupation of Czechoslovakia
Contrary to public declarations, Hitler was dissatisfied with the Munich Agreement, as it interfered with his broader ambitions for Czechoslovakia. He intensified his rhetoric against alleged British and Jewish provocateurs and secretly expanded the German navy, challenging British maritime dominance. In March 1939, Germany completed the occupation of Czechoslovakia, establishing the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and a puppet Slovak state. Hitler also coerced Lithuania into surrendering the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory), further demonstrating his contempt for European territorial integrity.The Escalation of Conflict and the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
The situation in Europe intensified as Germany demanded control over the Free City of Danzig. Britain and France, seeking to deter further German aggression, guaranteed Polish independence and extended similar assurances to Romania and Greece, which faced Italian expansionism. The German-Italian alliance was cemented with the Pact of Steel, and Hitler denounced previous non-aggression treaties with Britain and Poland. The crisis peaked with the German military's mobilization along the Polish frontier. On 23 August 1939, the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, including a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, clearing the way for Germany's invasion of Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.The Outbreak of World War II: The Invasion of Poland and Allied Response
Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, under the guise of false flag operations, marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. The United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany two days later, honoring their commitments to Poland. However, the initial phase of the war, known as the Phoney War, saw limited Allied military engagement. The Allies imposed a naval blockade on Germany, aiming to undermine its economy and war effort, which prompted Germany to retaliate with submarine warfare against Allied shipping, setting the stage for the Battle of the Atlantic.The Fall of Poland and the Redrawing of Eastern European Borders
The German blitzkrieg resulted in the rapid defeat of Polish forces, although Poland never capitulated and established a government-in-exile. Many Polish military personnel escaped to neutral countries, later contributing to Allied efforts in various theaters. Germany annexed western Poland and established the General Government in the central part, while the Soviet Union occupied eastern Poland under the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. Small portions of Polish territory were also ceded to Lithuania and Slovakia. Despite Hitler's peace proposals to Britain and France after the fall of Poland, they were rejected, and Hitler directed his military to prepare for an offensive against France, which was delayed due to inclement weather.The Soviet Union's Expansion and the Winter War
Concurrently, the Soviet Union exerted pressure on the Baltic states, resulting in the establishment of Soviet military bases in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Finland resisted similar demands, leading to the Soviet invasion in November 1939, known as the Winter War. The conflict concluded in March 1940 with Finnish territorial concessions. In June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic states and annexed the Romanian territories of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region, further altering the political landscape of Eastern Europe.
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European Tensions
Germany's Annexation of Austria
Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, setting a dangerous precedent
Sudetenland Crisis
Munich Agreement
The Munich Agreement, brokered by Western leaders, ceded the Sudetenland to Germany in hopes of avoiding war
Hitler's Secret Plans
Hitler secretly expanded the German navy and intensified his rhetoric against alleged provocateurs
Occupation of Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Germany completed the occupation of Czechoslovakia, establishing a puppet state
Escalation of Conflict
German Demands for Danzig
Germany demanded control over the Free City of Danzig, leading to tensions with Western powers
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence
Allied Response
The United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany after its invasion of Poland, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe
Fall of Poland
German Blitzkrieg
Germany's rapid military campaign resulted in the defeat of Polish forces
Redrawing of Eastern European Borders
Annexation of Western Poland
Germany annexed western Poland, while the Soviet Union occupied eastern Poland
Soviet Expansion
The Soviet Union exerted pressure on the Baltic states and annexed Romanian territories
Winter War
The Soviet Union invaded Finland, resulting in territorial concessions
Prelude to World War II
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00
Anschluss significance
Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, unopposed by other powers, setting precedent for further aggression.
01
Appeasement policy failure
Western democracies' attempt to prevent war by conceding to Axis demands, ultimately ineffective as aggression continued.
02
Post-Munich territorial changes
After Sudetenland cession, Germany influenced further Czechoslovak territory loss to Hungary; Poland annexed Zaolzie.
