HIS311Y1 Lecture 19: WWII
Document Summary
Poland had signed an agreement with britain and france should it come under attack from an external force. Poland could be attacked easily on august 3rd, 1939. Non-aggression pact signed by ussr and germany. Divided eastern europe in soviet and nazi zones of in uence. Divided poland between a soviet and germany sector. Consigned 3 independent baltic countries to the soviet union. Finland was left to its own devices. Stalin understood he could go pretty far in recovering sections of the old empire. Hitler was free from a 2-front war and could concentrate its attention on the western front. Germany is the most ef cient military mission. Most of its high command were people who had risen through the military, and they were good at it. Hitler and command of military had a tense relationship but this was not an issue until the end of war. Poland is invaded by ussr and germans come through.
