★ Internation Relations in Stalinist Russia Flashcards
★ What are the main interpretatons of International Relations in Stalinist Russia?
★ That Stalin had a zig-zag policy that changed directions according to circumstances
★ That Stalin had a ‘ Stalin Doctrine ‘ in the 1930s which wanted war between Germany and the Western World to weaken both sides while the USSR remained neutral
★ That Stalin had a single-minded obsessions with security
★ What was Stalin’s relations with Germany?
★ Rapallo and Berlin treaties, had cooperation with Germany especially with the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939 where they agreed to share Poland
★ However, the rise of Nazi Germany and Facism threatened Stalin, as well as Japan’s aggression in China
★ ^ Anti-Comintern Pact between Japan and Nazi Germany in 1936-1937, Anti-Communist in nature and directly threatened the USSR
★ How was the USSR’s entry into the League of Nations?
★ Joined in 1934, in 1933 maintained diplomatic relations with the USA and an American Embassy was established in Moscow, allowing US diplomats to operate inside the USSR
★ This was helped by Maksim Litvinov who gained him credibility and was seen as an ‘ acceptable face ‘ of the Soviet regime
★ Both were worried about the rising threat of Japan who had invaded Manchuria in 1931 and wanted to expand further militarily
★ Why was Russia’s fear of Japan significant?
★ Had been defeated by them before in 1905 which caused the 1905 revolution
★ Geographically close and ally of Nazi Germany
★ What were Russia’s pacts with France and Czechoslovakia
★ Wanted new allies due to the rise of Nazi Germany, though he was slow to act
★ 1932: Non-aggression pact with Poland which turned into a 10 year agreement in 1934
★ Similar non-aggression pact with France
★ Franco-Soviet Pact of Mutual Assistance in May 1935
★ USSR gave an undertaking to intervene militarily if Czechoslovakia was attacked by a third party as long as France did too
★ How did the USSR intervene with the Spanish Civil War?
★ Decided to intervene with Spain despite the League of Nation’s policy of Appeasement due to Hitler’s remilitarisation of the Rhineland
★ Right-wing Fascists in Spain were supported by Fascist Italy and Germany
★ August 1936, France proposed a general agreement of non-intervention in Spain, however Stalin perceived this as France and Britain’s weaknesses in fighting Fascism so he intervened in 1936
★ Soviet advisors sent to Spain and used Soviet propaganda
★ Changed his policy towards Spain in 1937, instead he wanted to prolong the war to wear down Italian and German forces
★ Disillusionment with France and Britain as they did little to help
★ What was the policy of Appeasement?
★ Western idea of giving into Hitler’s demands in order to persuade him to stop, didn’t work
★ What land did Hitler take from Czechoslovakia?
★ Sudetenland, was exactly the type of conflict that the Franco-Soviet Pact anticipated, however it was not activated as France didn’t intervene
★ What was the Munich Conference?
★ September 1938
★ Attended by Germany, France, Italy and Britain over the fate of Czechoslovakia, who wasn’t invited alongside the USSR
★ Winston Churchill used the policy of appeasement and was hailed as a hero for taking to Hitler
★ Winston Churchill - Very Anti-Communist
