rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-william-shirer-pdf

THE NAZI-SOVIET PACT 475It had now become necessary to ”test the military machine. The Army mustexperience actual battle before the big final showdown in the West.” Polandoffered such an opportunity.Coming back to England and France:The West has only two possibilities to fight against us:Blockade: It will not be effective because of our self-sufficiencyand our sources of aid in the East.1. 2. Attack from the West from the Maginot Line. I consider thisimpossible. Another possibility is the violation of Dutch, Belgiumand Swiss neutrality.England and France will not violate the neutrality of these countries. Actuallythey cannot help Poland.Would it be a long war?No one is counting on a long war. If Herr von Brauchitsch had toldme that I would need four years to conquer Poland I would havereplied, It cannot be done. It is nonsense to say that England wantsto wage a long war.Having disposed, to his own satisfaction, at least, of Poland, Britain andFrance, Hitler pulled out his ace card. He turned to Russia.The enemy had another hope, that Russia would become our enemyafter the conquest of Poland. The enemy did not count on my greatpower of resolution. Our enemies are little worms. I saw them atMunich.I was convinced that Stalin would never accept the English offer.Only a blind optimist could believe that Stalin would be so crazy asnot to see through England’s intentions. Russia has no interest inmaintaining Poland . . . Litvinov’s dismissal was decisive. It cameto me like a cannon shot as a sign of a change in Moscow toward theWestern Powers.I brought about the change toward Russia gradually. In connectionwith the commercial treaty we got into political conversations.Finally a proposition came from the Russians for a nonaggressiontreaty. Four days ago I took a special step which brought it aboutthat Russia announced yesterday that she is ready to sign. The personalcontact with Stalin is established. The day after tomorrowRibbentrop will conclude the treaty. Now Poland is in the positionin which 1 wanted her . . . A beginning has been made for the destructionof England’s hegemony. The way is open for the soldier,now that I have made the political preparations.The way would be open for the soldiers, that is, if Chamberlain didn’tpull another Munich. ”I am only afraid,” Hitler told his warriors, ”that someSchweinehund ∗ will make a proposal for mediation.”∗ ”Dirty dog.”