5.4 Stalin's International Relations Flashcards
Why did relations with Germany slow down in the 1930s?
The Nazi Party, who’s ideology directly contrasted with that of Soviet Russia had gained mass electoral support in 1932.
Stalin slowed down cooperation with Germany, being more interested in raising the security of Russia and improving relationships with Western democracy.
Stalin believed Hitler radicalness would lead to the collapse of capitalism and kept his options open for a potential co-operation with Germany.
Why did Stalin join the League of Nations in 1934?
Both Stalin and the US were worried about the rise of Japan, which had invaded Manchuria in 1931 and seemed set for further expansion.
Western Powers wanted the USSR to join the League of Nations to strengthen collective security against the threat of Japanese and German aggression. This need was worsened by both Japan and Germany dropping out of the league by 1934.
This prompted Stalin to join USSR into the League in September 1934.
What was the Franco-Soviet Pact in May 1935?
This was a pact of mutual assistance between France and the USSR, in case of an invasion from Germany.
The terms were vague on when the pact could be activated and many other Western countries were sceptical of the promise.
Stalin lost faith in the Pact after France’s passive response to Hitler breaking the Treaty of Versailles by remilitarising the Rhineland.
What was the Czech-Soviet Pact in 1935?
This was a pact in which the USSR promised to intervene militarily if Czechoslovakia was attacked by a third party, given France did too.
What was the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939?
The Civil War started when right-wing army officers led by Francisco Franco launched a rebellion against the Spanish Republic.
Franco was immediately supported by Facist Italy and Nazi Germany. France wanted to prevent the war from becoming international and urged Stalin not to intervene, who initially agreed.
The war ended in 1939 with Franco overthrowing the Republicans and remaining a ruthless dictator until his death in 1975.
How did the Soviets intervene with the Spanish Civil War 1936-37?
Stalin sent 100s of Soviet advisors into Spain, backed up with troops. The troops acted independently from the Spanish Republican government, taking orders from Moscow instead of Madrid.
Despite saving Madrid from falling to Franco, by 1937 Stalin was less interested in helping the Republicans win the war and more interested prolonging the war, to ware down German and Italian troops.
Stalin’s policies in Spain also slowed down due to disillusionment with the West, as Britain and France did little to subdue the Francoists and were suspicious of Stalin’s intentions in Spain.
What happened to Austria in March 1938? Why is this significant?
German forces invaded Austria and imposed the Anschluss which incorporated Austria into part of the German Reich. France and Britain protested but took no action.
It was clear that Czechoslovakia would be the next target which threatened France and the USSR’s pact.
What was the Munich Conference in September 1938?
This was a conference between Italy, France, Germany and Britain which decided the fate of Czechoslovakia.
Despite this, Czechoslovakia and the USSR (who had pacts with CS) were excluded.
The 4 powers agreed to annex Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) to Germany in exchange for peace with Hitler.
This ended the Czech-Soviet Pact as France didn’t take action against the Nazis.
What was the Anti-Comintern Pact 1936?
This was a pact between the Empire of Japan and Nazi Germany, agreeing to take action against the Comintern and thus the USSR. Italy would join this pact in 1937, forming the Axis alliance.
How did the USSR react to Japanese Aggression?
The USSR stationed military forces on the Manchurian border, when led to tensions.
This led to the “forgotten war” between Japan and the USSR, spanning May to September of 1939 in which 100,000 troops and 1,000 tanks/aircrafts were involved.
The Japanese were encircled and defeated, losing 75% of their troops. This forced Japanese expansionists to focus on the Pacific instead of the USSR.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939?
This was a pact between Germany and Russia which agreed to annex and split Poland’s territory in half, in return for remaining neutral against one another.
This gave the USSR possession of the Baltic states too.
What was the outcome of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- This protected the USSR from war with Germany, at a time where the USSR was weak as later shown by the lost of the Winter War 1939 against Finland
- This gave the USSR huge territorial gains (Half of Poland + the Baltics)
- Stalin was hoping a long war between France, Britain and Germany would make them all economically weak. However he overestimated the Strength of France, which fell to the Nazis in June of 1940, rather than years like he had expected.
