[dfwgator]

While Hitler considered all Slavs as untermenschen, why were the Poles singled out? Hitler treated the Czechs and Slovaks and Croats much better.

It’s because Hitler knew Poles would fight. Hitler used other Slavs as guards in the Death Camps but no Poles.....the reason, if a German gave a Pole a rifle they knew the Pole would immediately use it on the German.

Hitler had hoped to make a deal with Pilsudski, a man he respected, and knowing Pilsudski’s hatred of the Russians hoped to bring him into the fold. Had Pilsudski survived to 1939, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened. One interesting note is that when the Nazis invaded Poland, Hitler ordered an honor guard at Pilsudski’s grave.

[Cronos]

Piłsudski said "the Germans will destroy our bodies, the Russians will destroy our souls"

If I look at Poland's choices in 1939 -- no choice but death on either side. The death camps, the killing of 20% of their population was inevitable