"Hitler and Poland" by Norman Ridley offers a detailed and insightful examination into the complex and tumultuous relationship between Adolf Hitler and Poland, setting the stage for one of the most devastating conflicts of the 20th century. Ridley meticulously navigates through the historical, political, and military intricacies that defined the prelude to World War II, providing a comprehensive analysis of the events leading up to the invasion of Poland in 1939.

Ridley's approach to this sensitive and weighty subject matter is both scholarly and accessible, making it a valuable read for historians and general readers alike. He delves deep into the ideological underpinnings of Hitler's policies towards Poland, exploring the broader context of German nationalism, territorial ambitions, and the quest for Lebensraum. Ridley doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of this history, including the tragic impact on the Polish population and the role these events played in the unfolding of the Holocaust.

What makes "Hitler and Poland" stand out is Ridley's ability to draw on a wide range of sources to paint a multifaceted picture of the period. He balances political analysis with personal stories, giving voice to the individuals who lived through these tumultuous times. This humanizes the narrative, providing a poignant reminder of the personal costs of political and military conflicts.

Ridley also offers critical insights into the international response to Hitler's aggression towards Poland, including the failures and miscalculations of European diplomacy. His critique of the appeasement strategy and the international community's inability to effectively challenge Nazi ambitions before it was too late serves as a sobering lesson on the importance of confronting aggression.

In conclusion, "Hitler and Poland" is a compelling, well-researched book that sheds light on a crucial chapter of European history. Norman Ridley succeeds in making a complex historical period understandable and engaging, offering readers a deeper understanding of the factors that led to World War II. Whether you're a student of history, a World War II enthusiast, or simply looking to understand more about this pivotal time, Ridley's book is an informative and thought-provoking read.

The period of the Jagiellonian dynasty in the 14th–16th centuries brought close ties with the Lithuania, a cultural Renaissance in Poland and continued territorial expansion as well as Polonization that culminated in the establishment of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, one of Europe's largest countries.The Commonwealth was able to sustain the levels of prosperity achieved during the Jagiellonian period, while its political system matured as a unique noble democracy with an elective monarchy. From the mid-17th century, however, the huge state entered a period of decline caused by devastating wars and the deterioration of its political system. Significant internal reforms were introduced in the late 18th century, such as Europe's first Constitution of 3 May 1791, but neighbouring powers did not allow the reforms to advance. The existence of the Commonwealth ended in 1795 after a series of invasions and partitions of Polish territory carried out by the Russian Empire in the east, the Kingdom of Prussia in the west and the Habsburg monarchy in the south. From 1795 until 1918, no truly independent Polish state existed, although strong Polish resistance movements operated.The main minority ethnic groups of the former Commonwealth, including Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Belarusians and Jews, were getting involved in their own national movements and plans, which met with disapproval on the part of those Polish independence activists.In Poland, the principal revolutionary figures were Roman Dmowski and Józef Piłsudski. Dmowski was associated with the right-wing nationalist movement National Democracy, whereas Piłsudski was associated with the Polish Socialist Party.The opportunity to regain sovereignty only materialized after WWI,when the 3 partitioning imperial powers were fatally weakened in the wake of war and revolution.The emerging Polish state was internally divided, heavily war-damaged and economically dysfunctional.The territorial and ethnic policies of the interwar period contributed to bad relations with most of Poland's neighbors and uneasy cooperation with more distant centres of power,especially France and England.

Despite the title, this book is more of an 'inter-war history' of Poland, with the involvement of Hitler and the Nazi party really only making an appearance in the last 3rd of the book.

Having said that, it was still extremely interesting. There was a lot of history that I didn't know, about how Poland came into existence. There was a lot of exchanges of power over the land.

The Book came someway to exploring why Hitler "hated: the Polish people so much, and why they were treated so badly after the invasion in 1939.

The Book is well researched and laid out in mostly chronological order.

A documentary account of the state of mainly Eastern Europe between the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the outbreak of WWll in September 1939. In those intervening 20 years, there was constant wrangling between many Nations over the redrawing of the European Borders in 1919. The ensuing displacement of national ethnic speakers caused even more friction as did the expansionist ambitions of the emerging Soviet Union. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the rapid expansion in the strength of the German Armed forces in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles, set the stage for the next major conflict in Europe.
This book opens our eyes today to be very wary of what aggressive nations say and do and to avoid sleepwalking into similar situations in the future. Some will say that the state of Europe today combined with other geographically adjacent tensions, should cause grave concerns for this and the next generations’ peaceful coexistence.
A required read for anyone who wants to learn the lessons of the past.

This is a chronological history of the reconstituted Polish state’s relations with its neighbours between the two world wars. Plenty of detail about the early years of trying to stabilise its borders and then its ongoing problems with the two main threats east and west - the Soviet Union and Germany. There is little about the cultural development or life of Poland’s citizens so it is not possible to determine whether the frictions between the the states (let’s add in Czechoslovakia and Lithuania here as well) had popular backing or were just the result of demagoguery by the various leading politicians of the time.
Hitler himself doesn’t make an appearance until the book is two thirds done so the title is misleading. If anything he comes over as a bit-player so I am guessing that the author assumes the reader has ample knowledge about his policies and motivations. The end comes pretty quickly once 1939 appears and there is nothing about the war or occupation.
The book could have benefitted from sharper editing. There is the odd typo and the narrative jumps from year to year at times. Lenin died in 1924 so it was strange to be reading about him in 1928.
If you would like to to know what happened without an involved discussion of why and without a deeper understanding of the cultural background then this book will fill a niche in outlining Poland’s international relationships between 1918 and 1939. If you need a deeper analysis then perhaps this falls a little short.