Yes, this is exactly the "divided continent" strategy, in the name of which the British fought Spain, Prussia, destroyed Napoleon and Adolf. Germany by 1939 was very influential, and could potentially unite Europe.TlsMS93 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:18 pm So much so that the Soviets attacked Poland in 1920, but that didn't mean a world war started, and that was because the Bolsheviks were interested in reaching Germany.
Considering the secret protocol that was aimed exclusively at Germany, it is clear that Chamberlain capitulated to the pro-war barons to stay in power and clean up his image, which was ridiculed as a fifth column because of Czechoslovakia.
The English, with their divide and conquer strategy, never wanted or allowed a European nation to hold dominant influence on the continent, as was the case with Spain, France and Germany. So the issue is never about the necks of others; countries don't have friends, they have interests.
Therefore, security guarantees did not extend to other countries, only the Germans would get a war if they encountered Poland.
When the Red Army was in Poland (the miracle on the Vistula) in 1920, it had almost exhausted its offensive potential, at that time the Allied countries (the British, Americans, Japanese) were also intervening in the territory of the former Empire, and Russia itself was burning in the fire of civil war. It was not such a threat to the "divided continent" as Germany was nineteen years later.
Mr Stubble mentioned the so-called "focus group" that brought Churchill to power and was interested in war with the Reich. Although it was Chamberlain in 1939, not Churchill, I suppose they may also have influenced Chamberlain's cabinet in deciding to go to war.