Explain why Danzig was an important factor in the worsening of German–Polish relations in the late 1930s.
Level
AS LEVEL
Year Examined
2022
Topic
China and Japan, 1912–45
👑Complete Model Essay
Explain why Danzig was an important factor in the worsening of German–Polish relations in the late 1930s.
Why Danzig Was an Important Factor in the Worsening of German-Polish Relations in the Late 1930s
The issue of Danzig played a significant role in the deterioration of German-Polish relations during the late 1930s. The Versailles Treaty, intended to settle post-World War I disputes, inadvertently sowed the seeds of future conflict by creating a geographically separated East Prussia and awarding Poland a "corridor" to the sea, which included the strategically important city of Danzig.
The Treaty of Versailles established Danzig as a Free City under the League of Nations' protection, economically tied to Poland through a customs union. However, Danzig's population remained predominantly German, leading to simmering resentment over the city's separation from Germany. By the mid-1930s, the Nazi Party had gained considerable influence within Danzig. They capitalized on existing grievances and fueled demands for reunification with Germany. The situation was further complicated by Poland's construction of a new port in Gdynia. By the 1930s, Gdynia was handling more trade than Danzig, exacerbating resentment among Danzig's German population and fueling perceptions of economic strangulation.
Hitler's rise to power in 1933 marked a turning point. His ideology, centered on uniting all Germans under one nation, inevitably increased tensions with Poland. The annexation of Austria in 1938 and the subsequent Sudeten Crisis demonstrated Hitler's willingness to use force to achieve his territorial ambitions. These events heightened Polish anxieties about Germany's ultimate intentions regarding Danzig.
Hitler's blatant repudiation of the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact in March 1939 made his intentions clear. This action, coupled with the increasingly aggressive rhetoric employed by the Nazi regime against Poland, confirmed Polish fears that Danzig was next on Hitler's agenda. The memory of the Sudetenland loomed large, raising concerns that Danzig would be used as a pretext for a German invasion of Poland.
The League of Nations, tasked with safeguarding Danzig's independence, was utterly powerless by 1939. Its failure to prevent Japanese aggression in Manchuria and Italian expansion into Abyssinia had significantly eroded its credibility. Hitler recognized this weakness and exploited it to his advantage. The League's impotence meant there was no international body capable of effectively protecting Danzig or deterring further German aggression.
In conclusion, the Danzig question was a major factor in the deterioration of German-Polish relations in the late 1930s. The city's unique status, combined with the growth of German nationalism, Hitler's expansionist ambitions, and the League of Nations' weakness, created a tinderbox atmosphere. By using Danzig as a focal point for nationalist sentiment and a springboard for territorial demands, Hitler effectively ensured that the city would become a flashpoint, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of World War II.
**Sources:**
**Watt, D.C. "The Polish Corridor." **_History Today_, vol. 10, no. 8, 1960, pp. 548–556.
**Kimball, Warren F. _The Juggler: Franklin Roosevelt as Wartime Statesman_. Princeton University Press, 1991.*
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Why Danzig Was an Important Factor in the Worsening of German-Polish Relations in the Late 1930s
Introduction
This essay will examine the role of Danzig in the deterioration of German-Polish relations in the late 1930s. It will argue that the city's status as a Free City, its predominantly German population, and its strategic importance as a port, combined with Hitler's aggressive foreign policy, made Danzig a significant flashpoint for conflict.
Danzig’s Status as a Free City
Explain how the creation of Danzig as a Free City under the League of Nations following World War I created a complex and unstable situation.
Mention the city’s predominantly German population, who resented being separated from Germany, and their increasing demands for reunification.
The Rise of Nazi Influence in Danzig
Describe the growing influence of the Nazi Party within the city council of Danzig by 1936.
Highlight the escalating demands for union with Germany, fueled by Nazi propaganda and ideology.
The Competition Between Danzig and Gdynia
Discuss the construction of the new port at Gdynia by Poland, which ultimately handled more trade than Danzig, leading to increased resentment in the Free City.
Explain how this competition further inflamed tensions between Danzig and Poland.
Hitler's Expansionist Aims
Explain Hitler's ambition to reunite all German people, which brought Danzig into the focus of his territorial ambitions.
Describe the influence of the Sudeten Crisis on German-Polish relations and the growing fear that Hitler would use Danzig as a pretext for invasion.
Hitler's Repudiation of the German-Polish Treaty
Discuss Hitler’s repudiation of the German-Polish Treaty in March 1939, which heightened fears of his intentions towards Danzig and Poland.
Explain how this action heightened tensions and created a sense of inevitability regarding conflict.
The League of Nations’ Failure
Explain how the League of Nations, as the guarantor of Danzig's independence, had lost credibility by 1939.
Highlight how its impotence in the face of Hitler's aggression further contributed to the sense of impending crisis.
Conclusion
Summarize the key arguments, emphasizing the role of Danzig as a major contributing factor to the escalating tensions between Germany and Poland.
Conclude by stating that the city's status, its population, its strategic importance, and Hitler's aggressive policies, made Danzig a crucial catalyst for the outbreak of World War II.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Why Danzig Was an Important Factor in the Worsening of German-Polish Relations in the Late 1930s
The issue of Danzig stems from the Versailles settlement of the issue of Polish access to the sea at the expense of the continuity of German territory between East and West Prussia.
⭐At the end of the First World War, Danzig was made a free city under the protection of the League of Nations and linked in a customs union to Poland. However, its population remained predominantly German.
⭐By 1936, the city council was dominated by Nazis and demands for re-union with Germany were increasing.
⭐The Poles had built a new port at Gdynia, which, by the 1930s, was handling more trade than Danzig, which increased resentment in Danzig.
⭐Hitler’s aim of reuniting all German people increased tensions, especially after the Sudeten Crisis.
⭐Hitler’s repudiation of the German-Polish Treaty in March 1939 heightened fear of his intentions regarding Danzig in particular and Poland in general. This raised fears that Danzig would be an excuse for invasion, just as the Sudetenland had been.
⭐The League, as guarantor of the city’s independence, had lost all credibility by 1939.