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Setting the Scene
📖 Setting the Scene
August 23, 1939. The world gasps in disbelief. Nazi Germany and Communist Russia — ideological enemies — have signed a non-aggression pact. The secret protocol carves up Poland between them. Hitler has secured his eastern flank. A week later, German tanks roll into Poland. On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declare war. World War Two has begun.
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🧠 Memory Aid
Causes of World War Two — "HVALP":
- Hitler's aims — Versailles reversal, Grossdeutschland, Lebensraum
- Versailles grievances — created resentment that Hitler exploited
- Appeasement — convinced Hitler democracies would never fight
- League failure — no collective security against aggression
- Pact (Nazi-Soviet) — removed Hitler's fear of a two-front war
The Nazi-Soviet Pact in 30 seconds:
- Signed: 23 August 1939 (8 days before Germany invaded Poland)
- Who: Molotov (USSR) + Ribbentrop (Germany)
- Public: 10-year non-aggression
- Secret: Poland divided — Germany takes west, USSR takes east
- Result: Hitler free to invade Poland without fear of USSR
The final sequence to memorise: March 1939 (Prague + British guarantee) → August 1939 (Nazi-Soviet Pact) → 1 September 1939 (Germany invades Poland) → 3 September 1939 (Britain and France declare war).
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Quiz · Question 1 of 8
On what date was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
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