Stalin and international relations Flashcards
co-operation with Germany; entry into the League of Nations; pacts with France and Czechoslovakia; intervention in the Spanish Civil War; reaction to Western appeasement and Japanese aggression; the Nazi-Soviet Pact and its outcome
what was Stalin’s foreign policy aim 1924-1933
keeping Russia sage and focusing on domestic affairs - “socialism in one country”
What was Stalin’s foreign policy aim 1933-1939
collective security against fascism
sacred by Hitler’s rise to power
when was the treaty of Berlin and what did it do
1926
reaffirmed the treaty of Rapallo and was to remain in force for 5 years
USSR and Germany pledge neutrality if either were attacked by another power
military and economic ties between the countries grew stronger
when was the most intensive period of cooperation with Germany
1929-1932
How did Soviet industry benefit from cooperation with Germany
German technical expertise for the modernisation of industry and armaments production
Stalin made agreements with German armaments manufacturers in order to acquire modern weapons
How did Russia cooperate militarily with Germany
The German army were able to carry through military developments that were forbidden under the Treaty of Versailles on Russian territory
German officers trained the red army in tank warfare and military aviation
How did Stalin react to the rise of Hitler
slow to react to his rise
initially pleased as it would accelerate the collapse of capitalism
1933/1934 became more interested by collective security as ad more concern about Hitler
When did the USSR enter the league of nations
September 1934
how did diplomatic relations with the US open and when
1933
American embassy opened in Moscow
Who was the foreign commissar
Litvinov
How did Litvinov help foreign policy
had experience of the west and a polished social background making him credible to Western diplomats
visit to Washington in 1933 finalised agreement to re-open relations
what was support of popular fronts and when was it announced
1934
cooperation with democratic socialists in the fight against fascism
when was the non-aggression pact with Poland
1932
how did Germany cooperate with the USSR economically
Germany made long term significant loans to the USSR
German firms in the USSR manufactured guns, shells aircrafts and tanks
how much of russian imports came from Germany
47% by 1932
How did Stalin somewhat contribute to Hitlers rise to power
instructed foreign communist parties to denounce social democratic parties
KPD attacked the SPD as social fascists causing a divided left allowing the Nazi party to grow stronger
did little to protest against the repression of the KPD by the Nazi party
When was the non-aggression pact with France signed
1932
When was the Franco-soviet pact of mutual assistance signed
May 1935
why was the Franco-Soviet pact ineffective
did not have any specific clauses on military cooperation and was vague on the circumstances in which it might be activated
When was the Czech-Soviet pact
1935
what did the Czech- Soviet pact do
The USSR agreed to intervene militarily if Czechoslovakia was attacked by a third party as long as the French also provided assistance
When did Stalin sent troops to intervene in the Spanish civil war
September 1936
what did the USSR do in Spain
sent hundreds of soviet advisers to Spain backed by troops, tanks and aircrafts
helped to save Madrid from falling to Franco (nationalist right wing)
how did Stalin’s foreign policy change towards the Spanish civil war
1937 military commitment scaled down
aimed to prolong the war to wear down the Italian and German forces that were fighting for Franco
Why did Stalin intervene in the Spanish civil war
seen as a war between Left and Right
Fascist Italy and Germany had sent aid to the Nationalists
what was Stalin’s reaction to Western appeasement
concerned that France and Britain were not taking action against fascism
when was the Munich conference and what did it do
1938
Germany, France, Britain and Italy discussed the German takeover of the Sudetenland in Czechia
Czech-soviet pact not activated as France would not intervene
when did Germany invade Austria and what was the Western reaction
March 1938
France and Britain protested but did not take action
why did Japan pose a serious threat to the USSR
Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931
Japanese invasion of China in 1937
When was the anti-comintern pact and what was it
1936
Nazi Germany and Japan
agreed to take joint action against interference from Comintern - real enemy was the USSR
Italy joined in 1937
when was the war with Japan
May-September 1939
What battle helped the soviets to win against Japan and when was it
Khalkhin Gol
August 1939
How did the was with Japan help the USSR
Japan had underestimated Soviet military strength and suffered a heavy defeat
Japan decided to leave the USSR alone and focus of targets in the pacific
When was the Nazi soviet pact
1939
What did the Nazi-soviet pact do
non-aggression between the Germany and the USSR
neutrality in conflicts involving third parties
USSR gained spheres of influence in parts of Poland, Estonia and Latvia
Why did Stalin agree to the Nazi-soviet pact
it was clear that France and Britain were not taking action to achieve collective security against Hitler
helped to avoid war in West - war on two front with Japan in the East
Stalin hoped for a long war in Europe to exhaust them to allow for communism to spread
Outcome of the Nazi-Soviet pact
gave Stalin protection at a time when the USSR was militarily weak
enabled territorial gains and the destruction of Poland
Seized control of the Baltic states
