[Mariner]

The annexation of Austria was more than a year before that pact in March 1938. Czechoslovakia was in Mar, 39.

A pact signed in August 1939 did not “set off WWII”.

[colorado tanker]

I disagree. Hitler knew he could only get Poland by starting a war; the Allies would not hand it over like they had with Czechoslovakia. And he had to be sure of no Russian opposition.

As expected, the Allies did declare war when Hitler invaded Poland as they had refrained from doing in reaction to his other land grabs.

That said, it is an interesting question whether the war could have been headed off had the Allies stopped appeasing Hitler at an earlier date.