The decision seems explicable only in terms of the excitement and strain in which Hitler had been living the past fortnight and his habitual response in crisis to take up advanced, exposed positions. In any case he soon rescinded the order. Some time after 4.30 he received news that Great Britain and Poland were about to sign their pact, and shortly after six he was handed a message from his friend Mussolini to say that Italy could render Germany no assistance in the event of a conflict with Poland; she had neither the military nor the economic strength to resist an Anglo-French attack.
