WW2 help

[punisa]

Hello comrades, I was just a watching a decent WWII documentary and figured that I miss some details. So please fill in the gap if you may :)

How did actually Hitler and Stalin justify their invasion on Poland?
I know the back story about Austria and Czechoslovakia, but can not remember for Poland.

What was the official claim each of them made to the public? Considering that Ribbentrop Molotov agreement was still a top secret.
Where there German minorities in Poland at the time or?

Thanks :)

UPDATE:
hmm this could be dumped to the history section actually, sorry for that. Mods do your duty

[Dóchas]

nevermind

[punisa]

now you have had your say kindly fuck off :)

umm .. what?

[STJ]

Hello comrades, I was just a watching a decent WWII documentary and figured that I miss some details. So please fill in the gap if you may :)

How did actually Hitler and Stalin justify their invasion on Poland?
I know the back story about Austria and Czechoslovakia, but can not remember for Poland.

What was the official claim each of them made to the public? Considering that Ribbentrop Molotov agreement was still a top secret.
Where there German minorities in Poland at the time or?

Thanks :)




UPDATE:
hmm this could be dumped to the history section actually, sorry for that. Mods do your duty
Niether one them needed a justifcation it was just another land grab by those bastards.

There where Germans minorities in Poland cuz after WW1 Poland was created out of German and Russian land.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

The Germans seized one of there own radio stations with an SS unit (I believe) and said the poles did it.

Not sure about the Soviets.

I've never seen a WWII documentary not made for American WWII vets, so no good ones really.

[Dave B]

The 'Post' Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact




After the Government of the German Reich and the Government of the U.S.S.R. have, by means of the treaty signed today, definitively settled the problems arising from the collapse of the Polish state and have thereby created a sure foundation for a lasting peace in Eastern Europe, they mutually express their conviction that it would serve the true interest of all peoples to put an end to the state of war existing a present between Germany on the one side and England and France on the other. Both Governments will therefore direct their common efforts, jointly with other friendly powers if occasion arises, toward attaining this goal as soon as possible.

Should, however, the efforts of the two Governments remain fruitless, this would demonstrate the fact that England and France are responsible for the continuation of the war, whereupon, in case of the continuation of the war, the Governments of Germany and of the U.S.S.R. shall engage in mutual consultations with regard to necessary measures.
Moscow, September 28,1939.
For the Government of the German Reich:
J. RIBBENTROP

By authority of the Government of the U.S.S.R.:
V. MOLOTOV





The Government of the German Reich and the Government of the U.S.S.R. consider it as exclusively their task, after the collapse of the former Polish state, to re-establish peace and order in these territories and to assure to the peoples living there a peaceful life in keeping with their national character. To this end, they have agreed upon the following:
ARTICLE I.

The Government of the German Reich and the Government of the U.S.S.R. determine as the boundary of their respective national interests in the territory of the former Polish state the line marked on the attached map, which shall be described in more detail in a supplementary protocol.
ARTICLE II.

Both parties recognize the boundary of the respective nation interests established in article I as definitive and shall reject any interference of third powers in this settlement.
ARTICLE III.

The necessary reorganization of public administration will be effected in the areas west of the line specified in article I by the Government of the German Reich, in the areas east of this line by the Government of the U.S.S.R.
ARTICLE IV.

The Government of the German Reich and the Government of the U.S.S.R. regard this settlement as a firm foundation for a progressive development of the friendly relations between their peoples.
ARTICLE V.

This treaty shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged in Berlin as soon as possible. The treaty becomes effective upon signature.
Done in duplicate, in the German and Russian languages.
Moscow, September 28,1939.






On the occasion of the signature of the nonagression pact between the German Reich and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics the undersigned plenipotentiaries of each of the two parties discussed in strictly confidential conversations the question of the boundary of their respective spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. These conversations led to the following conclusions:
In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall represent the boundary of the spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. In this connection the interest of Lithuania in the Vilna area is recognized by each party.
In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement of the areas belonging to the Polish state the spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narew, Vistula, and San.
The question of whether the interests of both parties make desirable the maintenance of an independent Polish state and how such a state should be bounded can only be definitely determined in the course of further political developments.
In any event both Governments will resolve this question by means of a friendly agreement.

3. With regard to Southeastern Europe attention is called by the Soviet side to its interest in Bessarabia. The German side declares; its complete political disinterestedness in these areas.
This protocol shall be treated by both parties as strictly secret.

Moscow, August 23, 1939.
For the Government of the German Reich:
V. RIBBENTROP
Plenipotentiary of the Government of the U.S.S.R.:
V. MOLOTOV




Etc etc

[Dave B]

The Reich Foreign Minister to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union (Molotov)

September 28, 1939.



MR. CHAIRMAN: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today, in which you communicate to me the following:

"With reference to our conversations I have the honor to confirm herewith that the Government of the U.S.S.R. is willing on the basis and in the sense of the general political understanding reached by us, to promote by all means the trade relations and the exchange of goods between Germany and the U.S.S.R. To this end an economic program will be drawn up by both parties, under which the Soviet Union will supply raw materials to Germany, for which Germany, in turn, will make compensation through delivery of manufactured goods over an extended period. Both parties shall frame this economic program in such a manner that the German-Soviet exchange of goods will again reach the highest volume attained in the past.

Both Governments will at once issue the necessary directives for the implementation of the measures mentioned and arrange that the negotiations are begun and brought to a conclusion as soon as possible."

In the name and by authority of the Government of the German Reich I am in accord with this communication and inform you that the Government of the German Reich in turn will take the necessary steps for this purpose.
Accept, Mr. Chairman, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.
VON RIBBENTROP

[Dóchas]

wtf there was a troll post just after the OP but now its gone:confused:

was it deleted or something because i dont say things like that for no reason?

[NecroCommie]

The popularit of the nazi party was based on the hate of the "shame treaty" of versailles, which happens to be the peace treaty of ww1, and the treaty on which Poland were created. Germans and especially Hitler had a real beef with the dividing of germany with the so called "polish corridor", which gave Poland an important port city of Danzig, thus dividing the ww1 germany into Germany prior and east Prussia. Soviet union simply wished to bring forth the gospel of marxism-leninism to all the peoples of the world. With the introduction of nationalism with stalin, SU was especially interested in the slavic nations, on of which is Poland as far as I gather.

Some terms might be a bit off, since I studied this stuff in finnish.

[Dave B]

Yes the Danzig thing was a bit of an issue.

As we don’t seem to get many ‘ADOLF HITLER’ quotes on this list it seems a shame to miss the opportunity.


Even if he was afew butties short of a full lunchbox.



Letter from Hitler to Mussolini, August 25, 1939




DUCE: For some time Germany and Russia have been engaged in an exchange of views about a new attitude on both sides in regard to their political relations.



The necessity of arriving at some conclusions of this sort was increased by:
The general situation of world politics as it affected both of the Axis Powers
2 The necessity of securing a clear statement of position from the Japanese Cabinet. Japan would probably agree to an alliance against Russia, which would have only a secondary interest, under the prevailing circumstances, for Germany, and in my opinion, for Italy also. She would not, however, undertake such definite obligations against England, and this, from the standpoint not only of Germany, but also of Italy, was of decisive importance. The intention of the military to force the Japanese Government in a short time to take a similarly clear position with respect to England had been stated months ago, but had never been realized in practice.

(3) The relation of Germany to Poland, not through the blame of the Reich, but as a result of the activity of England, has become considerably 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 customs policy of Poland, resulting in the throttling of Danzig, has brought about a complete standstill in Danzig's entire economic life for the past several weeks and would if it were continued for only a brief length of time, destroy the city.
These grounds led me to hasten the conclusion of the German-Russian conversations. I have not kept you informed in detail, Duce, since I did not have an idea of the possible extent of these conversations, or any assurance of the possibility of their success.

The readiness on the part of the Kremlin to arrive at a reorientation of its relations with Germany, which became apparent after the departure of Litvinov, has become ever stronger in the last few weeks and has made it possible for me, after successful preparation, 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. The pact is unconditional and includes also the obligation for consultation about all questions affecting Russia and Germany. I may tell you, Duce, that through these arrangements the favorable attitude of Russia in case of any conflict is assured, and that the possibility of the entry of Rumania into such a conflict no longer exists!


Even Turkey under these circumstances can only envisage a revision of her previous position. But I repeat once more, that Rumania is no longer in a situation to take part in a conflict against the Axis! I believe I may say to you, Duce, that through the negotiations with Soviet Russia a completely new situation in world politics has been produced which must be regarded as the greatest possible gain for the Axis.
About the situation on the German-Polish frontier, I can only inform Your Excellency that we have been for weeks in a state of alarm, that as a result of the Polish mobilization German preparations have naturally also been increased, and that in case of an intolerable Polish action, I will act immediately.

The assertion of the Polish Government that it is not responsible for these inhuman proceedings, for the numerous border incidents (last night alone there were twenty-one Polish border violations), and for the firing on the German airplanes, which had already received orders to travel to East Prussia over the sea in order to avoid incidents, shows only that the Polish Government has its excitable soldiery [Soldateska] no longer under control. Since yesterday Danzig has been blockaded by Polish troops, a situation which is unendurable. Under these circumstances no one can say what the next hour may bring. I can only assure you there is a limit beyond which I will not be pushed under any circumstances.

In conclusion I can assure you, Duce, that in a similar situation I would have complete understanding for Italy and that in any such case you can be sure of my attitude.

ADOLF HITLER