The Nazi-Soviet Pact (23 Aug 1938)

Question 1

Why had Stalin been fixated on the threat of Hitler since 1933?

Answer 1

One of Hitler’s declared foreign policy aims was to destroy Communism

Question 2

What had Stalin done in 1934 in a hope of increasing the USSR’s security?

Answer 2

Joined the League of Nations - hoping the League would protect him from Germany

Question 3

Why did Stalin stop believing in the League of Nations as an effective peacekeeping institution?

Answer 3

After its failure and inaction in Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War

Question 4

Why was Stalin particularly suspicious of Britain?

Answer 4

Many British politicians in the 1930s had welcomed the rise of Hitler as a counter-weight to the threat of the spread of Communism

Question 5

What did most British politicians see as the biggest threat to world peace in the 1930s?

Answer 5

Communism

Question 6

Who did Stalin sign a treaty with in 1935?

Answer 6

France

Question 7

When did Stalin sign a treaty with France?

Answer 7

1935

Question 8

What was the 1935 agreement between France and the USSR?

Answer 8

The Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance

i.e. an agreement to help each other against the threat of Nazi Germany

Question 9

Why did Stalin lose faith in the Franco-Soviet treaty?

Answer 9

Because the French failed to do anything to stop the Germans remilitarising the Rhineland - despite it being right on their border!

Question 10

Which agreement in the late 1930s deepened Stalin’s concerns?

Answer 10

The Munich Agreement - Stalin was not consulted about it

Question 11

What did Stalin conclude after the Munich Agreement?

Answer 11

The Britain and France were powerless to stop Hitler’s Germany

Question 12

When did Stalin meet with the leaders of Britain and France to discuss a possible alliance?

Answer 12

In March 1939

Question 13

When Stalin met with Britain and France in March 1939, why did the meeting end in disagreement? (2)

Answer 13

1. Chamberlain did not trust Stalin and therefore did not want to commit Britain to an alliance.
2. Stalin saw Chamberlain’s guarantee of support to Poland as him supporting a potential future enemy .

Question 14

What was ongoing during the spring and summer of 1939 between Britain, France and the USSR?

Answer 14

Negotiations about a potential alliance

Question 15

Whilst discussions were ongoing between Britain, France and the USSR, who else was Stalin receiving visits from?

Answer 15

The Nazi foreign minister, Ribbentrop (RIBBEN – TROP)

Question 16

In August 1939, who did Stalin choose to side with: Britain and France or the Nazis?

Answer 16

The Nazis

Question 17

When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact announced to the world?

Answer 17

23 August 1939

approx. 1 week before Hitler invaded Poland on 1 Sept. 1939

Question 18

What were the details of the Nazi-Soviet Pact? (2)

Answer 18

1. Germany and the USSR agreed not to attack one another for 10 years
2. They agreed (secretly) to divide Poland between them

Question 19

What did Hitler gain from the Nazi-Soviet Pact? (2)

Answer 19

1. It gave him half of Poland

2. It ensured he would not face a war on two fronts

Question 20

What did Stalin gain from the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 20

It bought him time to rearm.

He still expected Hitler to attack at some point.

Question 21

What were the consequences of the Nazi-Soviet Pact for Poland?

Answer 21

Dire.

On 1st September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland.

(The USSR invaded two weeks later, on 17 Sept. 1939)

Question 22

When Hitler invaded Poland, what did he expect Britain and France would do?

Answer 22

Nothing

Question 23

What did Britain and France do?

Answer 23

They declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939 (two days after the war started)

Question 24

When did Britain and France declare war on germany

Answer 24

3 September 1939

Question 25

Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939 a surprise?

Answer 25

The Nazis and Soviets hated each other, so an alliance was surprising