Sources on the outbreak of
World War Two
Hitler,leader of
Nazi Germany
Stalin, leader of
communist USSR
Darkness, death and
destruction.
Sarcastic
greetings,
they don’t
like each
other but
pretend to
be polite.
Dead body to
Rendevous
represent Poland
Meeting place
In August 1939 the world was shocked when Nazi Germany signed a nonaggression pact with their avowed enemy, communist Russia. They were
declared enemies but reached an agreement not to fight each other, but also to
divide Poland between them.
Stalin, leader of
USSR
Guns hidden
behind backs,
don’t trust each
other
Legs tied
together,
represents
the NaziSoviet Pact
Hitler, leader of
Nazi Germany
Smiles, arms round each
other, flowers, every thing is
rosy.
Oil – Hitler’s
main aim?
fields
Shared border
after Poland
divided
between them
Caption
suggests one
of them is
misleading the
other.
Cartoonists suggests that the Nazi-Soviet Pact is temporary- but who is
tricking who? Has Hitler avoided a war on two fronts?
Hitler, dressed as
Santa.
Children representing former
friends of Britain and France
being bundled into the sack
Suggest the order
in which these
countries will be
taken over
Germany over
everything
The cartoonist suggests that Hitler is easily picking off countries one by one. They
are shown as small innocent victims. No-one is standing up to Hitler and Britain
and France are doing nothing to protect their former friends. It suggests that Hitler
is going to take over all of Europe
The caption echoes
British complacency
suggesting it is not their
problem
Britain is the
last one in
line, if they
fall, the
British
Empire
represented
by the eggs
in the basket
will be
destroyed.
Austria will be the first
victim followed by
Czechoslovakia
German military power
The hand of Hitler
applying pressure
on Austria.
The cartoonist is suggesting that once Austria falls victim to Hitler’s pressure then
the rest will fall like dominoes. The cartoonist also warns Britain and France
about their reluctance to intervene suggesting terrible consequences if they don’t.
Six months later Chamberlain commented, “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is
that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks here because of a
quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing.”
Daladier
Signpost suggesting
choice of directions
(France)
WESTERN
EUROPE
USSR
Hitler in the Nazi
war machine
Neville
Chamberlain
(Britain)
Weapons
suggesting ready
for war
This Russian cartoon after the Munich Agreement in September 1938 suggest
that Britain and France were diverting Hitler towards Eastern Europe to protect
themselves from the Nazi war machine. It implies Britain and France hoped to
benefit from a war between the USSR and Nazi Germany.
John Bull representing the
British public
Neville Chamberlain
on his return from
the Munich
Conference
Mediator, or
negotiator,
suggesting
Chamberlain had
skillfully used his
diplomatic skills to
avoid war.
Trenches which had
been dug in case of
the outbreak of war.
Gas mask,
another precaution
taken in the event
of war
Suggest that
Chamberlain has
tirelessly worked for
peace
The cartoonists suggests that the country should be grateful for the personal
efforts of Chamberlain who has avoided a war over the Sudetenland,
appeasement is seen as a triumph.
Olive branch
representing a
peace offering
Goose step,a style
of marching by the
German army.
Claims to have made
a mistake –
contradicted by map
Nazi flags showing
support for Hiler in the
Rhineland
Weapons showing
Germany has rearmed.
Peace Treaty that has
been ripped up and
ignored.
The cartoonist suggests Germany cannot be trusted, they offer peace but carry
a lot of weapons, they ignore peace treaties and you cannot trust their words
It implies Hitler is not reasonable and is preparing for war.
Adolf Hitler speaking about the remilitarisation of the Rhineland
“The forty-eight hours after the march into
the Rhineland were the most nerveracking of my life. If the French had then
marched into the Rhineland we would
have had to withdraw in disgrace, for the
military resources at our disposal would
have been inadequate for even modest
resistance.”
A conversation between Rauschning and
Hitler in 1934. the two men spent a lot of
time together between 1932 and 1934.
Rauschning; “Do you seriously intend to
fight the west?”
Hitler; “What else do you think we are
arming for? We must proceed step by
step, so that no-one will interfere with our
advance. How do we do this I don’t know
yet. But that it will be done is guaranteed
by Britain’s lack of firmness and France’s
internal disunity.”
Chamberlain’s radio broadcast before the
Munich Conference in September 1938
“How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that
we should be digging trenches and trying
on gas masks here because of a quarrel in
a far away country between people of
whom we know nothing.”
Winston Churchill speaking in Parliament in the
debate on the Munich Agreement in October 1938.
“I will begin by saying the most unpopular
and most unwelcome thing: we have
suffered a total and unmitigated defeat. I
think that, in the future, Czechoslovakia
cannot remain independent. You will see
that shortly, Czechoslovakia will be taken
over by Germany.”
Article from the Times newspaper on Chamberlain
after the Munich Agreement
“Applause for Mr. Chamberlain. No
conqueror returning from a victory on the
battlefield had come decorated with nobler
laurels.”
A Soviet historian, A.O. Chubaryan, writing about
the Munich Agreement, in a book Anti-Soviet
Conspiracy in 1969
“The governments of Great Britain and
France wanted to direct German
aggression towards the east, to satisfy
Hitler’s claims at the expense of the East
European countries. They feared the
increase of Germany’s strength in Europe,
but they hoped to appease Hitler by giving
him some Czech territory, and counted on
involving Germany and Russia in conflict,
thus weakening them both.”
A comment made by Lord Lothian in 1936 about the
remilitarisation the Rhineland.
He was a senior adviser to the British government.
“The Germans are, after all, only going into
their own back garden.”
From Mein Kampf, written by Adolf Hitler in
1924.
“We demand equality of rights for the German people in its
dealings with other nations. We demand the abolition of
the Treaty of Versailles”
An extract from the Nazi-Soviet
Pact, published in August 1939.
“The governments of Germany and the
USSR, aiming to strengthen the peace
between them, have agreed that they will
not attack each other, either alone or with
other countries.”