1939 War Myths On To Berlin Slogan Read

The Deadly Embrace: Hitler, Stalin and the Nazi-Soviet Pact, 1939-1941, by Anthony Read, David Fisher. 1989

“Poles to Take Berlin” Was Political Posturing: Hitler Did It Too. British Emboldened Hitler By Showing, Long Before WWII, That Their Military Promises to Poland Were Not Serious

This work is loaded with information about personages and events. However, it is less about Hitler, Stalin, and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact than it is about the events that preceded the German-Soviet conquest of Poland in 1939, through the events encompassing the early part of Operation Barbarossa—Nazi Germany having turned against its erstwhile Soviet ally (June 1941).

WHENCE THE TERM SLAV

The authors touch on various interesting information. For instance, consider the fact that there are many different ideas about where the term Slav came from. Authors Read and Fisher suggest that it came from the German word SLAVAN, which means silent. (p. 8).

BRITISH EMBOLDEN HILTER BY LONG ADVERTISING THAT THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR TREATY OBLIGATIONS TO POLAND

The unwillingness of the French and British to fulfill their treaty obligations to Poland became obvious long before the start of WWII, thus encouraging Hitler to take advantage and attack Poland. For instance, the British communicated to the Germans a lack of seriousness when they refused to sell an appreciable amount of arms to Poland. (p. 195).

THE MOTOTOV-RIBBENTROP PACT: THE NAZI-COMMUNIST ALLIANCE WAS REAL AND SUBSTANTIVE

During the Soviet-Nazi alliance (1939-1941), the Soviets sent millions of tons of goods to Nazi Germany. The authors tabulate this information. (p. 442). Obviously, this alliance was serious. It was no temporary expedient.

“POLES TO TAKE BERLIN” IRONY

Political posturing, conducted by both sides, should be recognized as such. When Poles spoke of “taking Berlin” in 1939, this has sometimes been taken literally, as if Poles had no idea of their limited military capabilities. Interestingly, Hitler also spoke, in dead seriousness, of the Poles conducting fantastic military exploits (that far exceeded their capabilities), as described in the next paragraph.

Thus, authors Read and Fisher describe Hitler’s unsuccessful attempt, in discussions with Ambassador Ciano, to get Mussolini to join him in the upcoming attack on Poland, (quote) Hitler trotted out the usual arguments about the Polish weather forcing him to invade soon: “From September to May, Poland is one vast swamp and completely unsuitable for any military operations”, he claimed. Poland could occupy Danzig [Gdansk] in October, as she probably intended to do, he said, knowing that Germany could do nothing about it, since he would naturally never bomb and destroy the city. He began to rant about the Poles, claiming that they were intent on taking the whole of East Prussia and advancing as far as Berlin. (unquote). (p. 191).

Obviously, Hitler knew from his military advisors that the Poles could not possibly reach Berlin. Polish military leaders certainly knew it too.

SHORTCOMINGS OF THIS WORK

Authors Read and Fisher have an almost annoying tendency of engaging in would-be mind reading. They write as if they know the motives of those about whom they are speaking, as when they say that so-and-so was vainful, overconfident, etc.

The authors’ treatment of the 1939 German-Soviet conquest of Poland borders on the abysmal. They manage to repeat all the hoary myths of this campaign. For corrective, please see the Peczkis Amazon Wish List: Military History: 1939 Blitzkrieg Myths…