“The important fact in the conflict with Poland, which will begin with an attack on Poland, is that it can be successful for us only if the West does not participate. If this should be impossible, it would be better to attack the Western Powers and at the same time destroy Poland.”
The second part of Hitler’s statement was specially devoted to a number of questions of military strategy connected with his decision to attack Poland. This is how the gangster assault of Hitler’s Germany on Poland was prepared in advance. It was put into execution in September 1939. We shall present documentary evidence of the monstrous crimes committed by the Hitlerites in Poland.
Yugoslavia was another Slav state which was the subject of a sudden attack on the part of Hitlerite Germany. It is well known that on numerous occasions Hitler’s Government had given false assurance to the effect that Germany had no aggressive intentions towards Yugoslavia. Thus, on 28 April 1939 Hitler, in his speech to the Reichstag, stated that Germany was ready to give assurances to a number of states, and in particular to Yugoslavia, that Germany wished to maintain with them relations of mutual understanding, as she was bound to them by alliances and by “close ties of friendship.”
Even prior to this, on 28 April 1938, the Berlin News Agency (DNB) had announced:
“Confidential representatives have informed the Yugoslav Government on Germany’s behalf that Germany’s intentions do not extend beyond Austria and that the Yugoslav frontier will remain inviolate.”
In spite of these repeated and categorical declarations, Hitler’s armies invaded Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941 and occupied this country. This attack was unexpected only by the victims, for the Nazi clique had carefully planned this assault in advance as it had done in the above-mentioned cases.
A top-secret directive issued from the Führer’s headquarters on 27 March 1941 and intended only for higher commanding officers of the German Army said:
“My intention is to invade Yugoslavia by powerful thrusts from the area of Fiume-Graz and from Sofia in the general direction of Belgrade and further to the south, with the objective of inflicting on the Yugoslav army a decisive defeat as well as to cut off the southern part of Yugoslavia from the rest of the country and to turn it into a base for further operations of the German-Italian forces against Greece. By proposing the return of Macedonia and Banat, attempts will be made to bring about the participation of Bulgaria and Hungary in the operations.
“The internal political crisis in Yugoslavia will be aggravated by political guarantees promised to the Croats.”
Further on, the directive lays down a detailed strategic plan for the invasion of Yugoslavia and provides for actual participation in this aggression of the German Armed Forces, including the 10th Air Corps, which had to be transferred from Italy in order to take part in these operations.