WWII

Question 1

Why was Soviet foreign policy contradictory after the revolution?

Answer 1

On the one hand wanted to develop trade and relations with neighbouring states and on the other wanted to spread communist revolution

Question 2

What was the Third Communist International (Comintern)

Answer 2

Founded in Moscow 1919:
= intended to be a more revolutionary organisation than its predecessor, purpose was to sponsor + promote world revolution

Question 3

Why were foreign states at first hostile to the Soviets?

Answer 3

Due to instructions to foreign communists to infiltrate political systems

Question 4

What were the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the USSR?

Answer 4

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania + Finland in 1920

Question 5

What did the 1922 Genoa Conference offer?

Answer 5

Credit and loans to USSR in return for the settlement of debts from the Tsarist era + the restoration of foreign business
= USSR refused

Question 6

What was the Treaty of Rapallo 1922?

Answer 6

Secret agreements made for G troops to train and their technology to be tested in the USSR
= gain access to German technology

Question 7

When did Britain recognise the USSR?

Answer 7

In 1924

Question 8

Why did relations with Britain break down and when were they created again?

Answer 8

Due to the Zinoviev letter - no relations until 1930

Question 9

When did the French recognise the USSR?

Answer 9

1924 + signed a non-aggression pact in 1932

Question 10

When did the USSR recognise the USSR?

Answer 10

Completely opposed to USSR until 1933

Question 11

What was the Anti-Comintern pact 1936?

Answer 11

Alliance between Germany and Japan against the USSR
- Italy join in 1937
= stop the activities of comintern

Question 12

Why did the Czech Crisis 1938 persuade Stalin that Britain and France could not be trusted as possible allies against Germany?

Answer 12

Appeased Hitler + ignored Stalin’s protests in the LoN

Question 13

What was the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact 1939?

Answer 13

Economic agreement: provided raw materials + machinery from G in exchange for food
Non-Aggression agreement: amicable resolution of any disputes
Secret Agreement: Division of Poland

Question 14

What was the Russo-Finish War?

Answer 14

Russia requested a small piece of land to keep Leningrad defended
- ended up as a small war = Russia got territory around Leingrad

Question 15

Why did Hitler invade the USSR 1941?

Answer 15

• Felt there was no real Western Front
• Ideological motive = hated Bolshevism
• Stalin demanding territories
• Thought Stalin would go back on the agreement
• Lebensraum

Question 16

What caused the failure of Operation Barbarossa?

Answer 16

• Fighting on 2 fronts
• Hitler’s arrogance + compliance
• Scorched earth policy + cold weather
• Infrastructure

Question 17

What was the battle of Kursk July 1943?

Answer 17

Largest tank battle in history:

• USSR annihilates Germany on the Eastern Front
• Had better technology + intelligence = MAJOR CHANGE

Question 18

Why did Germany want Stalingrad 1942-43?

Answer 18

Industrial city:

- caucasus as a major oil producing area in USSR = used for munitions

Question 19

Why was the siege of Leningrad 1941-44 a victory for the USSR?

Answer 19

Failure to capture the birthplace of the revolution = boosted moral + encouraged Russians to resist

Question 20

What was Stalin’s scorched earth policy?

Answer 20

During all crops + removal of all industrial capacity so G had to bring own supplies

Question 21

What were the Russian casualties of the war?

Answer 21

About 20m = 14% of population

- Took the brunt of the war compared to allies

Question 22

What were the conditions of Western USSR by the end of the war?

Answer 22

Had been ravaged by invasion and scotched earth

Question 23

What were the external/foreign benefits for the USSR?

Answer 23

• Emerged as a superpower = went on to dominate international relations for the rest of the 20th century
• Part of the Grand Alliance
• Soviet Army had liberated EE
• Regained lost territory from WWI

Question 24

What were the internal benefits for the USSR?

Answer 24

Stalin secured his grip on the communist party

Question 25

What was Stalin’s view on worldwide revolution?

Answer 25

• Propaganda showed Stalin was pledge to active encouragement of worldwide revolution
• BUT in practice he did not judge the USSR as being strong enough to sustain a genuine revolutionary foreign policy

Question 26

When Germany were deploying forces on the USSRs border what did Stalin believe?

Answer 26

That this was not an actual invasion

- claimed British intelligence were distorting the picture to get the USSR to attack Germany

Question 27

Why was the Soviet army so ill-prepared for the German invasion?

Answer 27

Due to the purges of army officials

Question 28

How much larger were the Soviet Unions forces compared to the Germans?

Answer 28

• matched Germany in the number of troops
• had 4x the no. of tanks
• 3x the no. of aircraft

Question 29

By the end of 1941 how much of the population was under German occupation?

Answer 29

1/2

Question 30

By the end of 1941 how much of the nations industry was in German hands?

Answer 30

1/3

Question 31

By the end of 1941 what had steel and iron production dropped by?

Answer 31

60%

Question 32

By the end of 1941 how much of the railway system was no longer usable?

Answer 32

40%

Question 33

By the end of 1941 how much had grain stocks been reduced by?

Answer 33

40%

Question 34

How did Stalin differ to NII?

Answer 34

Had the sense to let his generals have real freedom to direct the war