How the war in Europe began?

Johnathan White

by Brian Bamford

WHAT caused the Second World War? 

Many answers can given according to A.J.P. Taylor:  'German complaints against the peace settlement of 1919 and the failiure to redress them; failure to agree general controlled disarmament; failure to agree collective principles of security; fear of communism and, on the Soviet side, of capitalism and its impact on international policy; German strength, which destroyed the balance of power in Europe; American aloofness from European affairs; Hitler's unscrupulous ambition - a blancket explanation favoured by some historians; at the end, perhaps only mutual bluff.'

A view from the Morning Star

In the Morning Star the journalist Jonathan White on Monday, September 30, 2019 wrote:

'The second world war started, apparently, because of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and the dual invasion of Poland. It was the dismemberment of free and independent Poland by the “totalitarians” that started the war.' 

Here he is reacting to the decision on September 18, 2019 by the European Parliament to vote by 535 votes to 66 to support a resolution 'On the Importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe.'

The historian A.J.P.Taylor wrote 'English History - 1914-1945' that 'On 23 August he [Ribbentrop] and Molotov signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact.'  And 'Soviet Russia promised to stay neutral if Germany were involved in war' He adds:  Thus 'Hitler assumed almost certainly that, without the Soviet alliance, the Western Powers would run away.'  And Taylor thinks:  'Stalin probably made the same assumption.' adding 'Both seem to have expected that Poland would be diminished or dismembered without general war,'

The totalitarians, Hitler and Stalin, both got it wrong with regard to Britain, but Taylor says 'The French almost came up to these expectations.'  'French statesmen stood aside' writes Taylor, 'and let things happen during the days which settle their destiny.'

In Britain reactions were different and the 'Nazi-Soviet Pact was regarded as an affront, a challenge to British greatness'.  Thus, Conservatives turned against Hitler and Labour were equally bitter against Stalin.  Taylor records:  'Even members of the Left Book Club were determined to show that they, at any rate, were sincere in their anti-fascism.  The stir was confined to parliament.  There were no great public meetings in the week before the outbreak of war, no mass marches demanding "Stand by Poland".  It is impossible to tell whether members of parliament represented the British people.  At any rate, the M.P.s were resolute and the government tailed regretfully after the house of commons.'

 Anglo-Polish Treaty Signed & War Begins

Despite what Johnathan White now says about the Nazi-Soviet Pact; Taylor observes that: 'On 25 August the Anglo-Polish treaty of mutual assistance was at last signed.  The British government had announced on the 22 August that the Nazi-Soviet Pact would not change their policy towards Poland' 

In consequence the British ultimation was delivered to the German government at 9 a,m. on the 3 September 1939, and the Germans made no reply, and the ultimatum expired at 11a.m.

Despite all the post-facto chatter of a 'world campaign against fascism', now echoed by Comrade White in the Morning Star, only 'France, Great Britain, and Dominions were, the only powers who declared war on Germany.'  As Taylor writes:  'All other countries which took part waited until Hitler chose to attack them, the two World Powers, Soviet Russia and the United States, as supine as the rest...  Perhaps the British and French could boast that they alone joined the crusade for freedom of their own free will.'

Aa A.J.P. Taylor writes:  'Probably the British people were surprised at the noble part which events had thrust on them.'

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