On 1 September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland as the first major step of its campaign in Central Europe--the occupation of Czechoslovakia notwithstanding--while in February 2022 we saw Russian President Vladimir Putin set his sights on Ukraine. Both invasions were a result of ambitious leaders trying to expand their countries’ power, influence,and territorial expansion. In 1939, Hitler sought to create an empire with himself at its head; in 2022, Putin was determined to reconstitute the old Soviet Union and restore it to its former glory.
The United States had adopted an isolationist policy prior to both invasions, but ultimately got involved when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941--forcing America into World War II. Today, the U.S. has maintained that same policy of isolationism for much of the past year; however, it has provided support for Ukraine by offering billions of dollars in aid.
The two scenarios also shared subtle details such as some of the minor belligerents on either side - when Germany invaded Poland they had Italy on their side in Europe (Japan was their Axis partner in the Pacific); today, Russia is backed by Belarus and other former Soviet states (China is their Axis partner in the Pacific, with Iran in the background). But more importantly, both episodes were characterized by dictators with a firm grip on power and ruthless ambitions who were willing to use force if necessary; Hitler had years of terrorizing Europe while Putin’s desire for expansion has led him to try and redraw borders with military force.
While there are certainly some similarities between these two events that cannot be overlooked or dismissed, one cannot look at them without appreciating how different they really are—the technology, political landscape and global connections have changed immensely since 1939—but this doesn’t undermine their importance and relevance in today's world.
Could there be a catastrophic event that pulls the U.S. and her allies into a shooting war full time, such as China invading Taiwan?
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