2009/12/10 by Jameson W. Crockett · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Polish Historical and Cultural Studies #Eastern European Communism and Reforms #European history and politics
paper · doi:10.1080/09592290903455667
openalex publication_date 2009/12/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The January 1933 appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany marked the beginning of the end of the fragile post-war peace throughout Europe. The Polish leadership had good reason to fear his threats of revising the Treaty of Versailles. Realising that Hitler was too dangerous to remain in power, the Polish leadership led by Marshal Józef Piłsudski prepared for a preventive war against Germany. Unfortunately, the appeasement policy among the Western Powers condemned this plan to failure and forced Poland into signing a non-aggression pact with Germany in 1934; thus dooming Poland's existence. To test his premonitions about Hitler, Piłsudski created several international “incidents” concerning the Free City of Danzig, designed to test both Germany and whether the Western Powers would fight to uphold the Treaty of Versailles. Piłsudski's efforts offer proof that Poland deserves more credit for its determination to deal with a rising tide of Nazi Germany.