THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO WISE OLD PIŁSUDSKI!!!!

Nip Nazism in the bud,

The Thousand-Year Conspiracy - Secret Germany Behind the Mask (1943) is probably one of the biggest exposes of the historical roots of what later became known as Nazism. From the origins of German chauvinism to the ascent of the Teutonic Knights within Germanic society which ultimately spawned the Nazi movement, Winkler skillfully traces the enablers of the dark side of the German character. Labelling them “Prusso-Teutonics” he notices that in their pursuit of Pan-German goals they do not hesitate to deal in a cynical and ruthless manner with their own citizens if necessary. The author goes deep into the history of medieval knights and related secret societies which served as a base for both political and economic philosophies of the later Nazi movement. Although writing in 1943, Winkler foresaw that the Prusso-Teutonics would realize their goals through the creation of a German-dominated central European economic union (bearing a striking resemblance to today’s European Monetary Union.) Of particular note for contemporary Americans is Winkler’s account of the deliberate, Machiavellian manipulation of the German economy by Hjalmar “Horace Greeley” Schacht, the American-born financier who eventually became the finance minister of the Third Reich. Especially worth taking into account is how Schacht restructured the German economy with an eye to driving the citizenry to such a point of hysteria that they would willingly follow the likes of Hitler.
A masterpiece of historical analysis, this fascinating book provides essential background for comprehending the genesis of German totalitarian movement known as Nazism. 375 pages.

Non-aggression pacts were the spirit of those times until the predestined course unfolded.

Certainly was, as hadn't Poland signed agreements with Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and then later with Britain and France! This frenetic paper signing might suggest a failure of Polish foreign policy?

Had Piłsudski's notion of a federation of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine -- a throwback to the Rzezpospolita Obojga Naroidów -- been accepted, teh Soviet Union would have probably collapsed before it got going.

Why didn't Poland go it alone? Hadn't Poland's army soundly defeated the Red Army in the 1920's?

Maybe Poles didn't see the ovations that Hitler got and the sentiment he aroused as a palliative against Versailles.

Nobody really knew the extent of the evil that he posed as they were secretly hidden maps and plans.

Absolutely, Poland even didn't know about Tcheckoslovakia invasion by Polish army and stealing their land. It

Seanus:
Non-aggression pacts were the spirit of those times until the predestined course unfolded.



Certainly was, as hadn't Poland signed agreements with Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and then later with Britain and France! This frenetic paper signing might suggest a failure of Polish foreign policy?

Sean no one in their mind would expect something like that, its only with hindsight that we know of concentration camps, gas chambers etc, if you told this to a 1920s Pole or even a German he'd think you're nuts.

Because no one in their right mind suspected what Germany would be capable of.

the English (David Lloyd George, the English prime minister, who decided to lift the Royal Navy’s blockade of Russia just as the Civil War seemed to be turning against the Reds) the Soviets were granted new life.

The Japs could have been guarantors of stability on the eastern flank of a post-Soviet Russia.

Probably he would have taken back long-lost Polish territories

Maybe this was the real reason for Piłsudski wanting a pre-emptive strike while he perceived Germany

in the bud but more to do with Piłsudski's ambitions of regaining long-lost territory and this maybe part of the reasons France and Britain were not willing to go along with Piłsudski?

And I thought you were a smart fellow, Nathan :(