Quick questions on The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 explained: O-Level History

After Czechoslovakia, it was clear that Hitler's next likely target was Poland, partly because of his demands over the city of Danzig and the Polish Corridor, which separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany. To deter him, Britain and France took a new and firmer line: they publicly guaranteed to defend Poland's independence. This was a major change from appeasement. It meant that if Germany attacked Poland, Britain and France were committed to going to war.

The most surprising event of 1939 was the Nazi-Soviet Pact, signed in August between Germany and the Soviet Union. Nazi Germany and the communist Soviet Union were bitter ideological enemies, so an agreement between them stunned the world. Publicly it was a promise not to attack each other. Secretly, the two agreed to divide Poland and parts of eastern Europe between them.

The outbreak of war in 1939 was the result of all the longer-term causes coming together. Hitler's aggressive aims and actions had been pushing toward war throughout the 1930s. The failure of the League and the policy of appeasement had failed to stop him and had made him bolder. The events of 1939, the seizure of Czechoslovakia, the Polish guarantee and the Nazi-Soviet Pact, were the final steps.

On what date did Germany invade Poland? [3 marks]

Explain why the seizure of the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 was a turning point. [5 marks]

"The Nazi-Soviet Pact was the main reason war broke out in 1939." How far do you agree? [8 marks]