Stalin's foreign Policy late 1920s Flashcards
1
Q
Relations with China
4
A
- Stalin initially supported the Chinese Communist Party, but his policies toward China shifted over time.
- Stalin supported the Chinese nationalist leader Chaing Kai-shek who he saw as being more likely to bring stability to the country. Therefore in 1923 he supported the CPC to form an ‘alliance from within’ with the KMT on the anti-warlord front. Stalin had a complicated relationship with Chinese CPC leader Mao Zedong.
- By 1927 Chaing Kai-shek had decided to rule without the communists and purged them, massacring 30,000-40,000 Chinese communists.
- Stalin’s refusal to provide direct support to the Chinese Communists during the Chinese Civil War was a key point of tension.
2
Q
Relations with Britian
6
A
- 1921- Anglo soviet trade agreement.
- 1923 Curzon ultimatum.
- 1924 zinoviev letter.
- After 1925 the British government had virtually suspended all dealings with the USSR.
- 1926 Russian Comintern activity involved in a general strike but the TUC refused to receive communist funding .
- 1927 the police mounted a full raid on the premises of a russian trade mission and suspected spy ring. This led to a retaliation of similar circumstances in Moscow on British citizens
3
Q
Relations with germany
3
A
- Treaty of Berlin (1926): Stalin sought to avoid confrontation with Germany and signed the Treaty of Berlin in 1926, which normalised diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Germany.
- The treaty provided both countries with an opportunity to cooperate against the common threat of Western powers, and it was part of Stalin’s strategy to strengthen Soviet security.
- Germany helped Soviet industry modernise in late 1920s; tank and locomotive production; USSR offered submarine-building
4
Q
Summarise of the advantages of mutual cooperation between USSR and Germany, 1922-1932
A
- Both ceased to be diplomatic outcasts in Europe
- USSR avoided being ganged up on by capitalist countries
- Germany strengthened its bargaining position against Britain and France
- German officers were able to train in the Red Army in tanks and aviation
- Germany made significant long-term loans to USSR
- German financial and technical help during the NEP and First Five-Year Plan
- USSR supplied markets for German heavy industry
- By 1932, 47% of USSR imports came from Germany
- German companies in USSR manufactured guns, shells, aircraft and tanks
5
Q
Changes in the Comintern :
A
- Leadership of the Comintern reflected the power struggle in USSR (Zinoviev, Bukharin, Molotov)
- Foreign Communist parties increasingly forced into line; leadership shuffled
- Comintern turned Left when Stalin did; attacks on co-operation with Social Democrats; Reduction in importance as Stalin showed little interest in foreign policy
- In Germany the divide led to the rise of hitler
