The sources and questions relate to Case study 2: German and Italian expansion (1933–1940) — Events: German expansion (1938–1939); Pact of Steel, Nazi–Soviet Pact and the outbreak of war.

Source I

Adolf Hitler, Führer of Germany, writing in a letter to Benito Mussolini, Il Duce of Italy (25 August 1939).

The relationship of Germany to Poland, as a result of the policies of England, has become more unsatisfactory since spring and in the last few weeks the position has become simply unbearable. The reports about the persecution of the Germans in the border areas are not invented press reports but represent only a fraction of the terrible truth. The current policy of Poland has brought about a complete standstill in Danzig’s entire economic life for the past several weeks and would, if it were continued, destroy the city.

The readiness on the part of the Soviet government to negotiate with Germany has made it possible for me to send my Foreign Minister to Moscow for the conclusion of a treaty which is the most extensive non-aggression pact in existence and whose text will be made public.

Source J

Bernard Partridge, a political cartoonist, depicts Hitler and Joseph Stalin [Soviet Leader] after the signing of the Nazi–Soviet Pact in the cartoon “Doubtful Friends” for the British magazine Punch (27 September 1939). The wording on the map says “Poland”.

Source K

Keith Eubank, a professor of history, writing in the academic book The Origins of World War II (2004).

[German Foreign Minister] Ribbentrop wanted to come to Moscow immediately but [Soviet Foreign Minister] Molotov insisted that the visit to complete the pact should come a week later. Hitler had to resort to a personal message to Stalin in order to extract an invitation for Ribbentrop to come to Moscow sooner. Ribbentrop met Molotov and Stalin in the Kremlin. They rapidly agreed on a non-aggression pact. If one partner went to war, the other promised to remain neutral.

A secret agreement dividing Poland convinced Stalin. Hitler could now be certain that Stalin would not interfere with his plans in the east when he attacked Poland and then turned his attention to Britain and France. Stalin not only had peace but a promise of spheres of influence that Britain and France had denied him …

In a letter to Hitler, [British Prime Minister] Chamberlain vowed that, despite the Nazi–Soviet Pact, Britain would not step down from its obligations to Poland. Chamberlain pointed out to Hitler that war between Britain and Germany would be a disaster and that there was nothing between Poland and Germany that could not be settled peacefully. Chamberlain recommended a truce on both sides …

Hitler telephoned Mussolini to tell him that an attack on Poland was imminent and that he needed the help that Mussolini had promised in the Pact of Steel. Mussolini had to admit that Italy could not go to war unless it received urgently needed supplies …

Source L

Hitler had ensured Stalin’s neutrality so he could attack Poland. Hitler also hoped that Britain would remain neutral and not become embroiled in any war between Germany and Poland so on 1 September 1939 Germany attacked Poland.