[AndyJackson]

What I don't agree with is the logic of your own conclusion which you attempt to stuff into Pat's mouth even though it is not his conclusion, because that is not Pat's argument. Pat is not arguing about Hitler's choices and the morality thereof. He is arguing Poland's choices, which could be laid out as game-theory would suggest as follows:

Option 1: Stand intransigent and rely on Chamberlain's guarantees. Outcome 1: Chamberalain's word was worthless, Poland was devastated, its population decimated or worse, the country was divided, and suffered 50 years of communist oppression.

Option 2: Recognise we are in an untenable position and try to negotiate something. Outcome 2: Historically unknowable since we took option 1, which turned out to be the worst of all possible worlds.

None of that analysis is moral absolution or justification of Hitler.

[Toddsterpatriot]

None of that analysis is moral absolution or justification of Hitler.

Never said it was. Pat blaming Poland for the war is not the same as Pat saying Hitler was justified.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Option 2: Recognise we are in an untenable position and try to negotiate something. Outcome 2: Historically unknowable since we took option 1, which turned out to be the worst of all possible worlds.

But in hindsight we along with Pat can know what Option 2 would have meant for Poland given Hitler's barbarism in other parts of Europe long after Poland had fallen. Look at what he did to Holland after they surrendered.

Having said that Option 1 was the only tenable choice they could make after watching how Hitler had behaved with Czechoslovakia. Pat only compounds his silliness when he then exclaims that had Poland given in there might not have been a war at all.

It's ludicrous on its face and while I do like Pat if he keeps up this kind of reasoning his credibility, what's left of it is going to go down faster than the Luftwaffe did in the Battle of Britain.

[rmlew]

Option 2: Recognise we are in an untenable position and try to negotiate something. Outcome 2: Historically unknowable since we took option 1, which turned out to be the worst of all possible worlds.
Look up what happened to Czechoslovakia after the gave up the Sudetenland. Then retract your silly statement.