Ukraine crisis is making Europeans think again about ' 30s and origins of World War II , says Timothy J . Smith : As with Putin today in Ukraine , Hitler in 1938 in Austria based claim on need to protect fellow ethnics . Once Austria had gone , European leaders easily defeated Czechoslovakia , which truly deserved support , he adds . Seizure of Crimea was meant as challenge to EU , to prove European values can not protect themselves - Ukraine .
Ukraine crisis is making Europeans think again about '30s and origins of World War II , says Timothy Snyder . Snyder : As with Putin today in Ukraine , Hitler in 1938 in Austria based claim on need to protect fellow ethnics . Once Austria had gone , European leaders easily betrayed Czechoslovakia , which truly deserved support , he adds . Seizure of Crimea was meant as challenge to EU , to prove European values can not defend themselves - Snyder .