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Soviet Foreign Policy (1933 Hitler Chancellor (Litvinov, Russian foreign…
Soviet Foreign Policy
1933 Hitler Chancellor
Litvinov, Russian foreign minister, advised USSR to join LoN in 1934, turn to collective security
protect himself against fascism and nazism
1935, policy of attacking western social democrats as being social fascists overturned, already too late
left wing form popular fronts against extreme right, crushed by Mussolini and Hitler
1935: USSR and France signed mutual assistance pact with Czechoslovakia
Sudetenland and German-speakers, Czechoslovakia would be betrayed in end
1936: Spanish Civil War, many left wingers saw it as an attempt to fight back Fascism, but S fearful that success of Soviet intervention alarm UK and Fr and so would form anti-Communist pact, he intervened but cautiously
1936: H sent a small force into Rhineland, see if could break ToV, France could have acted, had big army but wouldn't act alone, UK was appeasing
1938 Anschluss, forbidden by ToV, imposed on Austria
1938 Munich Agreement: Sudetenland issue, height of appeasement, USSR not invited to conference , France, Britain, Italy, G, S felt was being pushed towards Germany
1939: Germany took most of rest of Czechoslovakia, Fr and UK guaranteed Poland, USSR potential ally to both sides
Poland had been part of tsar's empire, S interested in it - would do the unthinkable Nazi-Soviet Pact as UK and Fr mistrust so deep
to S, all countries despicable capitalists
knew Lebensraum meant Russian territories
Stalin needed time
Germany was prepared to make a deal over territories in Eastern Europe, not Br or Fr,
Germany also major trading partner of USSR
early mindset
fearful, foreign intervention in civil war
felt had enemies in rest of world
always thinking defensively, how could fend off those jealous of their revolution, the evil capitalists
only communist regime :
Early Development
1922 Treaty of Rapallo w/ G.
both outcasts, couldn't join LoN, led to some economic and military co-operation
Stalin: socialism in one country
when Fascists and Nazis grew stronger, S turned down ideas to call for a union between social democrats and socialists against Nazis
Stalin forbade G communists from linking w/ social democrats, saw SDs as 'social fascists'
Left divided, S divided it further, in part allowed for H to come to power
Stalin defensive, said must secure revolution in USSR
Interpretations:
Stalin hated all capitalist states, felt in end would fight each other so focused on finding what was best short-term, was surprised by G's attack on USSR
policy for collective security rose from fear of Nazis, Lebensraum meant USSR, Stalin is more defensive, wanting protection
Stage 3
Molotov destroyd Litvinov, said collective security collapsed, UK and Fr couldnt be trusted, appointed foreign minister
UK dragged feet making deal w/ USSR, Litvinov had suggested it
Nazi-Soviet Pact signed, UK and Fr didnt think it would happen, came as a real shock, meant G could begin attack