Invasion of Poland

Page 4 of 7

• 1. The gamble
• 2. Revision of Versailles
• 3. Growing menace
• 4. Nazi-Soviet pact
• 5. Invasion
• 6. Western response
• 7. Find out more
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Nazi-Soviet pact

Hitler's only real concern was that a sudden German invasion of Poland might alarm Stalin and trigger a war with the Soviet Union. Stalin feared a German invasion and had been seeking an anti-Nazi 'collective security' alliance with the western powers for many years, but by July 1939 Britain and France had still not agreed terms.

'Stalin feared a German invasion...'

Poland had also rejected an alliance with the Soviet Union, and refused permission for the Red Army to cross its territory to engage the Wehrmacht in a future war. Hitler saw his opportunity, and authorised his Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop to enter into secret negotiations with the Soviet Union.

The result was the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact on 23 August 1939. Both Hitler and Stalin set aside their mutual antipathy for national gain and in particular the restoration of their pre-1919 borders.

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Published: 2004-05-10