Stalin and international relations Flashcards
Why did the west fear the USSR?
feared spread of communism, wary of comintern
What percentage of foreign workers in USSR in 1930 were german?
70% of 9000
What did Germany benefit from with the USSR?
German military training in Russia due to Treaty of Versailles - Russia learnt and germany had better troops
When did Germany and the USSR negotiate the continuation of Berlin Treaty?
1931
When did Stalin move away from cooperation with Germany?
After Hitlers rise to Chancellor in 1933
When was Russia asked to join the League of Nations?
September 1934
How did the USSR benefit from the League of Nations membership?
offered international cooperation against Hitler
could influence Britain and France
How did the West benefit from the USSR League of Nations membership?
strengthened security against Japan and Germany
When did Japan and Germany leave the League of Nations?
1933
What was Stalin slow to react to?
Hitler’s regime - even after KPD repression.
When was the Non-aggression pact with France?
November 1932H
Who signed a Non-aggression pact in Dec 1932?
Poland
Who signed mutual assistance pacts in May 1935?
France and Czechoslovakia.
What could be said about the mutual assistance pacts?
not followed by any military planning
What was announced at the 1935 Comintern Congress?
Communist parties were encouraged to form ‘popular fronts’ with socialists to fight fascism
When did the Spanish civil war break out?
July 1936
When did Stalin decide to intervene in the Spanish civil war?
Septtember 1936 - military equipment and ‘advisors’
What did Stalin move his strategy regarding the Spanish Civil war?
1937 - prolonging Spanish Civil War - wearing down German and Italian forces on Nationalist side
What was Stalin disappointed by in relation to the spanish Civil war?
France and Britains inaction in fighting fascism - signalled weak against Nazi Germany
What exacerbated fear and dislike of Soviet Communism in the west?
Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil war
What did France and Britain protest in March 1938?
the German annexation of Austria - took no further action
When was the Munich conference?
September 1938
Who was in the Munich conference?
Germany, France, Britain and Italy - what to do with region of Czechoslovakia
When did Germany begin their invasion of Czechoslovakia?
March 1939
What was Stalin very concerned about in regards to foreign policy?
Japanese aggression, Japan’s military dictatorship build powerful war machine
Where did Japan invade in 1931 and 1937?
Manchuria - 1931
China - 1937
When did War start with Japan after minor border confrontations?
May 1939
Where did the USSR defeat Japan in August 1939?
Khalkhin Gol - Soviet Mongolia
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
23 August 1939
what did the Nazo-Soviet pact agree to?
Germany and USSR would respect territories, trade and settle disputes peacefully
What was a secret part of the Nazi-Soviet pact?
divided eastern europe into spheres of influence
Who did Stalin keep dialogue open with after the 1939 pact?
Western countries - continued anti-Nazi propaganda
What could Stalin’s policy towards Germany be seen as?
inconsistent - however could be seen as keeping USSR safe from war
What was Stalin well aware of?
Hitler’s Soviet invasion plan
Why was the Red Army not ready for war in 1939?
the purges and administrative confusion over rearmament
How did the Nazi-Soviet pact benefit Stalin?
Breathing space,
territory gains,
avoidance of two front war,
USSR neutral as countries wore each other out
How did the Nazi-Soviet pact benefit Hitler?
Free reign to invade Poland,
Raw materials from USSR,
Avoiding war on two fronts
When did Germany begin it’s invasion of Poland?
September 1939
What did the USSR seize control over in 1940?
Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia
Who did the USSR attempt to invade?
Finland in November 1939
What was the outcome of the ‘Winter War’?
Finland gave 10% of land to USSR - showed weakness of Red Army
how long did stalin calculate Hitler couldnt’ invade the USSR from?
May 1942
What did Stalin ignore, thinking he could trust Hitler?
ignored warnings from spy network - suggested Hitler had begun invasion prep in Oct 1940
When did the Nazi’s begin the invasion of the USSR
22nd June 1941, USSR long way from being prepared
