Nazism and communism were bitter enemies. But Hitler and Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, did not want to fight each other yet. So, they signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939. ● They agreed to a ten-year non-aggression pact (they agreed not to attack each other).
● They also secretly agreed to divide Poland between them.
The pact meant that Hitler could attack Poland without having to fight the Soviet Union. It also meant that Stalin could prepare for a future war with Hitler.
(i) Identify each of the leaders (X and Y). (ii) What symbols are used in this cartoon?
(iii) Why do you think each leader is shown with a gun in his hand?
(iv) Does this cartoon expect that Germany and the Soviet Union will still go to war in spite of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
7 The Polish Corridor
The Polish Corridor separated Germany from one of its provinces, East Prussia. Hitler demanded the return of the Polish Corridor, but the Polish Government refused. ● Britain and France supported Poland. ● However, Hitler believed they were too far away and would not be able to help Poland.
● He declared war on Poland on 1 September 1939.
8 Japanese aggression Japan expanded into China in the 1930s. The League of Nations failed to stop Japanese expansion. The Japanese also expanded into Indo-China (Vietnam). ● This brought it into conflict with America which imposed economic sanctions on Japan.
The Japanese decided they needed to destroy the strong US Pacific fleet based in Hawaii. ● The Japanese attacked the Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbour in December 1941. ● This brought America into World War II.
A cartoonist’s impression of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, August, 1939