Did Manchukuo Influence Hitler’s Invasion of Poland?
Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 was one of the most pivotal decisions in the history of World War II. Having led Germany to unprecedented economic prosperity and military success, Hitler’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Poland would come to dramatically alter the course of European – and world – history. The decision is widely seen as the moment which sparked the war.
The role of the puppet state Manchukuo in the period leading up to the invasion has been subject to much debate in recent years. How, if at all, did Manchukuo contribute towards Hitler’s decision to invade Poland? This article examines the position of experts on the topic and attempts to provide some insight into the role of Manchukuo in the lead up to the war.
Japanese Aggressions and Control
‘When Hitler decided to invade Poland in 1939, he was likely influenced by events occurring in the wider world’, states Professor John Trenton of the University of Nebraska. One such event was the contemporaneous control and aggressions of the Japanese puppet state Manchukuo against surrounding countries, including Mongolia, China and the Soviet Union. Manchukuo had been formally established in 1932 with the backing of Japan to serve as an extension of the Japanese Empire. Japan initially sought to push Manchukuo’s own narrative of independence, but it was clear that the state was puppet in character and wholly dominated by their Japanese overlords.
The aggressions of Manchukuo served only to create general hostility throughout the region. Japan, too, saw its power and international standing flourish as a result. Thus when it came for Hitler to make his decision on whether to launch a full-scale invasion of Poland, he viewed the situation in the wider region through a much more positive lens.
Economic Motives and German Desires
It’s also apparent that economic motivation and German political desires were also of relevance. Professor Martin Ibsen of the University of Wales’ School of International Affairs suggests that ‘the 19th September agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union shortly before Hitler’s decision to invade allowed German forces to be sent to Poland. This suggests that the material conditions of the international environment heavily influenced the Fuhrer’s decision.’
This, combined with the rising economic success attributed to Nazi Germany in the preceding years, meant that German aggression was arguably opportunistic in nature and that some view the invasion of Poland as inevitable.
Indeed, Poland’s role as a Slavic nation also weighed heavily on Hitler’s decision. Derided by the Fuhrer as a ‘mongrel race’, the domination of the Poles was considered essential to the fulfilment of Nazi ideology.
Manchukuo’s Human Devastations
Though the puppet state of Manchukuo led to economic and political successes for Japan and Germany respectively, the human costs, in particular, remain largely unrecognised by history. Japanese forces, as well as their associated Russian collaborators, acted in cruel and heinous ways throughout Manchuria. Chinese drivers in particular were targeted, with many facing assassination and displacement. Such actions, though of significance to those in Manchukuo, were marginal in informing Hitler’s invasion and are rarely discussed in the wider context.
Hitler’s Terms and ideology
Ultimately, however, the decision to invade Poland was Hitler’s alone. Biographies and accounts have long denoted the Fuhrer’s commitment to expansionist ambitions and his own anti-Semitic ideology. The former meant that a long-term occupation of the country by German forces was a core objective, whilst the latter was long-held and translates as the justification for the expulsion of Poles from Germany.
The Nazi-Soviet Pact, German economic successes, and their own ideology all contributed heavily towards the decision to invade, though Manchukuo’s own actions, and those of the international community more generally, were of relevance in the lead up to the event.
Confrontation with the West
At the heart of Hitler’s motivations was a desire to confront the Western forces, and in particular the United Kingdom and France. An invasion of Poland, in their view, would display a demonstration of German strength and gain him recognition in the wider world, even though deep, underlying motivations remained unseen.
Manchukuo’s aggressions had been preceded by a series of Western shortages and embargoes to the German forces, culminating in the Non-Aggression Act being signed in 1934. There is some prospect that Hitler viewed the state of Manchukuo as a way of achieving these motives and pushing the boundaries of international authority. Such speculation is stronger if we acknowledge the domestic political success of Japan in the period.
Did-Hitler Have a Plan?
It is clear, then, that Hitler’s decision to invade Poland was subject to complex and far-reaching motivations. Though Manchukuo’s role in this delicate dance of intentions remains up for debate, the influence of the state on international politics shouldn’t be underestimated.
Citing Professor Emmanuel de Giverny’s work on the matter, ‘it’s believed that Hitler had a plan to reshape the European geopolitical landscape prior to the launch of any invasion. Thus, whilst the invasion itself was unexpected, the forces and motives of the period suggest that his ambitions ran deeper than just Poland’.
Manchukuo’s Longterm Impact
It’s important to note, however, that – regardless of whether we attribute Japan’s actions to Hitler’s overall decision or not – the cultural and economic devastation of Manchukuo has remained a part of China’s legacy up until the present day. Its importance to regional politics, then, should not be underestimated.
Political commentators often overlook the complexities and nuances of the politics of the period and instead cite the invasion of Poland as a more isolated act. When viewed from a wider perspective, however, it’s clear that a greater conspiracy of issues was at play.
Conclusion
The role of Manchukuo in Hitler’s decision to invade Poland remains the subject of much scholarly debate and disagreement. Even though control and aggression of the state clearly affected the wider political and economic environment of the period, it remains elusive as to the true impact. Nevertheless, acknowledging the role of Japan’s control of Manchukuo in the international ambitions of the period affords us a far richer understanding of the time.
