Foreign Relations

Question 1

Attitudes to Foreign Powers

Answer 1

main aim = keep USSR safe whilst concen on S1C
not pos to be iso - China = unstable & ops in Ger
Chicherin & Litnivov = mod diplo image NB to keep cap relas safe esp ger
comitern = low priority in lship struggle 1929 used to attack soc dems in Eur belived diluting com for WC

Question 2

China

Answer 2

Oct 1911 rev overthrow Emp = instability after 1925 death of leader = Chinese com P- sups & GMD S sups
CCP unorth ideas about p revs backed GMD bour rev better finances & stability - urged to join then have WC rev
alli failed GMD used fin assist from R to build army & violently supress com led W’s revolt in Shanghi - 1000s died over 1927 30k = massacred
1927 PC crit sup but accus didnt stick from T
shows how was determined to elim rivals & overriding concern for security X rev

Question 3

Treaty of Berlin

Answer 3

after TofR 1922 = good rela
1926 TofB aimed to build trustful coop if 1 attacked other would = neutral & wouldnt join econ boycott
R got creds from ger banks
Stres died 1929 this & H’s rise strained rela
comitern spent 62 mil marks 1921 & 47 mil 1922 on Ger rev

Question 4

Comitern Changes

Answer 4

b4 1929 = decline S focus = dom - S1C Comitern assoc w/ T
After 1929 - soc facism would ready for fight by ensuring all foreign com ps purged selves of weak elements in R = T imposing strict disci & made sure all followed R pol tighter control w/ yes men

Question 5

Reasons for more agressive approach

Answer 5

way to attack B = op new focus
inc confidence X T
S Rev
fear of challenge

Question 6

International Relations

Answer 6

after rev = iso W fear com spread & wary of comitern
need trade only ger opened way to LofNs
RI depen on foreign expertise esp Ger & USA - early purges X foreigners

Question 7

Germany

Answer 7

coop 1929-32
Ger experts help indust 9000 foreign w’s 1930 70% = ger
benefited from mili training m mod weapons & ger got land to train - Lipesk for pilots
Ger = biggest export market & R = main customer for ger manu
1931 contin TofB
S may have welcomed H’s rise - sign of instability & divison between caps 1933 = chancellor - moves away from ger to col security

Question 8

League of Nations

Answer 8

invited 1934 - 1933 estab diplo relas w/ USA - embassy in Moscow - allows diplos
Litvinov = well estab 1933 helped build rela - J worries helped
USSR joining inc col security Ger & J w/d 1933
offered poten internat coop against anti com H & influ over B & Fr

Question 9

France & Czechoslovakia

Answer 9

S = slow to react to Ger threat even when KPD suppressed
may have been waiting for B, Fr & Ger to weaken whilst = neutral
didnt seek new alliances
Nov 1932 non-agres pact w/ Fr - base Franco Sov Pact of Mutual Assisstance = vague on activation & lacks specifics
Dec 1932 Non Agres w/ Pol
May 1935 MAP w/ Czech & Fr would intervene if C attacked as long as Fr did too - no serious mili planning

Question 10

Comitern Policy Switch

Answer 10

willingness to form allis encour reversal in pol
announced Com Con 1935 instead of targetting SDs encour to form pop fronts to fight F

Question 11

Spanish Civil War

Answer 11

broke out July 1936 fascist sup nat group tried to overthrow republic
intervenes sept 1936 - mili equip & advisors helped hold off - also indpen sov forces - followed Mos orders
1937 want to prolong to wear down Ger & I causing internal feuds
frus at B & Fr - worried = weak in face of Ger - intervention exacerbated concern & dislike of Com

Question 12

Western Appeasement

Answer 12

March 1938 protest annex of Aus but X action
Chamberlain believes appeasement = good option for peace
Sept 1938 = Munich Conference Ger, B, Fr, I discuss how to deal w/ Ger claim to Sudenland - C & R excluded even tho in C & H claimed should = protected by Ger = excuse for 1939 invasion X Fr action so no MAP - showed no robust W effort to stop

Question 13

Japanese Agression

Answer 13

1930s = concern
invade Manchuria 1931 & China 1937
J & Ger sign anti - comitern pact 1936 I join 1937
maj war 1939 over 100k troopa 1000 tanks & aircraft
defeat J in Sov Mongolia Aug 1939 75% of J’s killed - under esti R

Question 14

Nazi Soviet Pact

Answer 14

Aug 1939 - would respect terris inc trade and peacefully settle disputes
divided E Eur into Ger & USSR
kept dialogue W & anti-Nazi prop = inconsistent action coop - conflict - pact seen as shock - delaying measure knew H planned invasion X ready = probs after purges

Question 15

Benefits for Stalin

Answer 15

prep time
avoidance of war on 2 fronts
terri gains & destruc of anti-sov P
could = neutral as others weakened

Question 16

Benefits for Hitler

Answer 16

free to invade w/o Sov sup allies
raw materials
X 2 front war

Question 17

Outcome

Answer 17

sept 1939 invade pol USSR invade 2 weeks later - meant H free to send armies W w/ sov reprisal & defeated Fr May 1940 earlier than S thought & Ger not weakened
USSR seize Baltic States 1940 invade Finland Nov 1939 showed RA as weak peace March 1940 Fin gave 10% terri

Question 18

Stalin’s Mistakes

Answer 18

pact only gave temp safety & some prep time
calc couldnt invade until May 1942 - upheld treaty to T paid gold & sent raw materials & food
took Ger 6 weeks to defeat m of W Eur June 1940 X exhausted = stronger & m motivated
thought could trust H & ignored warnings that suggested = prepping Oct 1940 meant when invaded 21st June 1941 = X preped