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Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

British-French Guarantee of Poland, March 1939

  • After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, Britain and France anticipated that his next target would be Poland.
    • The Versailles Settlement had created the Polish Corridor from German territory.
      • This corridor divided Germany into two separate regions.
      • The free city of Danzig was located within Poland.
        • Danzig had been designated as a free city by the Versailles Settlement.
        • Previously a German city, Danzig housed many Germans.
        • Hitler had already demanded the return of Danzig.
    • Hitler was pursuing an eastward expansion.
      • Czechoslovakia shared a border with Poland.
  • By March 1939, Britain and France had abandoned the policy of appeasement.
    • They no longer believed that Hitler would halt his aggressive foreign policy.
    • Britain and France had made significant strides in rearmament.
  • On 31st March 1939, Britain and France entered into a formal agreement with Poland.
    • The agreement committed both countries to protect Poland’s borders.

Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11

The Polish Crisis and the Outbreak of War

Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11

Hitler was surprised that Britain declared war because:

  • Britain and France had allowed Hitler to get away with similar invasions
  • Hitler believed he could negotiate with Britain
    • Hitler thought that, if he promised not to invade Britain and its colonies, Britain would allow Hitler to control Europe
  • Hitler believed that he had legitimate reasons to invade Poland
    • Germans lived in the Polish Corridor
    • Danzig was originally a German city
  • He did not think Britain was prepared for war

Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11

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Causes of the Second World War

Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11

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FAQs on Why Did Britain & France Declare War on Germany? - History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11

1. Why did Britain and France guarantee Poland in March 1939?
Ans. The British-French Guarantee of Poland in March 1939 was a response to the growing threat posed by Nazi Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. The guarantee was aimed at deterring Germany from further aggression and protecting Poland's sovereignty.
2. What was the Polish Crisis and how did it lead to the outbreak of war?
Ans. The Polish Crisis refers to the series of events that culminated in the invasion of Poland by Germany in September 1939, sparking the outbreak of World War II. The crisis began with Germany's territorial demands on Poland and escalated as diplomatic efforts failed to resolve the situation peacefully.
3. What were the causes of the Second World War?
Ans. The causes of the Second World War were multifaceted and included factors such as the Treaty of Versailles, the rise of dictators like Hitler and Mussolini, territorial disputes, economic instability, and the failure of appeasement policies. These factors collectively contributed to the outbreak of the war in 1939.
4. Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany?
Ans. Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, following Germany's invasion of Poland. The two countries honored their guarantee to defend Poland's sovereignty and saw the invasion as a blatant act of aggression that could not be ignored.
5. How did the British-French Guarantee of Poland impact the course of the war?
Ans. The British-French Guarantee of Poland played a significant role in shaping the course of the war by signaling a unified stance against German aggression. While the guarantee ultimately failed to prevent the invasion of Poland, it set the stage for the Allied Powers to come together and ultimately defeat the Axis Powers.
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