SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY

1918-1941(PART II)

STALIN’S FOREIGN POLICYSTALIN’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Stalin continued the Stalin continued the policy of isolationism policy of isolationism with his “Socialism in with his “Socialism in One Country”One Country”

• Sought to promote Sought to promote peaceful relations with with other countriesother countries

• Sought economic Sought economic cooperation to aid his cooperation to aid his industrialization industrialization programmesprogrammes

STALIN’S FOREIGN POLICYSTALIN’S FOREIGN POLICY

Two developments on its Two developments on its borders changed the borders changed the direction of Soviet direction of Soviet foreign policy :foreign policy :

1.1. In the west, Hitler came In the west, Hitler came into power and rearmed into power and rearmed Germany in preparation Germany in preparation for conquestfor conquest

2.2. In the east, Japan had In the east, Japan had launched attacks against launched attacks against Manchuria and ChinaManchuria and China

STALIN & NAZI GERMANYSTALIN & NAZI GERMANY

• Hitler and the Nazis came to Hitler and the Nazis came to power in 1933power in 1933

• Stalin hoped that the Stalin hoped that the countries could be on countries could be on friendly terms despite friendly terms despite Hitler’s Hitler’s hatred for for communism communism An An anti-Comintern Pact was signed in Nov 1936 was signed in Nov 1936 between Germany and Japan (Italy between Germany and Japan (Italy joined in Nov 1937) to jointly fight joined in Nov 1937) to jointly fight against communismagainst communism

• He realised soon that Hitler He realised soon that Hitler was determined to make was determined to make Germany a great power Germany a great power againagain

• This would make Germany a This would make Germany a threat to the USSRthreat to the USSR

STALIN & NAZI GERMANYSTALIN & NAZI GERMANY

• Middle of 1930s : Stalin tried Middle of 1930s : Stalin tried to improve relations with to improve relations with other countries other countries Common Front Common Front StrategyStrategy

• This was one way of getting This was one way of getting support against Nazi support against Nazi GermanyGermany

• Economically, it would help Economically, it would help in his industrialization effortsin his industrialization efforts

• 1934 : USSR joined the 1934 : USSR joined the League of NationsLeague of Nations

• 1935 : Stalin signed treaties 1935 : Stalin signed treaties with Czechoslovakia and with Czechoslovakia and France. Why?France. Why?

STALIN & NAZI GERMANYSTALIN & NAZI GERMANY

• Both were neighbours of Both were neighbours of Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

• Like Stalin, both were Like Stalin, both were worried about the growth of worried about the growth of Germany’s powerGermany’s power

• The treaties promised The treaties promised support for each other in support for each other in the event of a clash with the event of a clash with GermanyGermany

STALIN & NAZI GERMANYSTALIN & NAZI GERMANY

• 1936 : Stalin sent support to 1936 : Stalin sent support to the Republican forces in the the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War

• Hiller gave his support to the Hiller gave his support to the other side, the Nationalists, other side, the Nationalists, who were against democracy who were against democracy and communismand communism

• Stalin was afraid that Stalin was afraid that Germany’s power would Germany’s power would grow if the Nationalists won grow if the Nationalists won the civil war and gained the civil war and gained control of Spaincontrol of Spain

• After 3 years, the After 3 years, the Republicans were defeatedRepublicans were defeated

• USSR troops were withdrawnUSSR troops were withdrawn

USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE

• Britain and France were obvious allied against Germany

• Their leaders wanted to prevent Germany from gaining more lands and becoming too powerful

• However, they were also opposed to communism

• We saw earlier that they were wary of the USSR

• Stalin was also suspicious of Britain and France. Why?

• Britain and France had ignored Russia

– 1935 : Britain and France signed the Stretsa declaration

• opposed actions that endanger peace in Europe• aimed specifically at Hitler• Russia was not invited to sign

– Major European powers gave in to Hitler’s demands on Czechoslovakia despite the Russian offer to send troops to help the Czechs.

• At a meeting in Munich between them in 1938, Russia was not invited

• Stalin felt that the European powers were deliberately pointing Hitler towards Russia.

USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE

• Britain and France had ignored Russia– In 1935, Britain and France signed a declaration

opposing actions that endanger peace in Europe, aimed specifically at Hitler. Russia was not invited.

– Major European powers gave in to Hitler’s demands on Czechoslovakia despite the Russian offer to send troops to help the Czechs. At a meeting in Munich between them in 1938, Russia was not invited.

• Stalin was also wary of them because of their Britain & France inaction – 1935 : Italy invaded Ethiopia – no resistance from

European powers– 1936 : Germany occupied the Rhineland (an area

ceded to France after WWI). Britain and France took no action

– Stalin believed that Europe lacked the will to resist the new dictators Hitler and Mussolini

USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE

• He did not trust them to keep their promises

• They might not abide by their promises • USSR would be left to deal with Germany

on its own in the end• He suspected that Britain and France

would be happy if Germany invaded USSR. Why?

USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE

• This would weaken communism• At the same time, it would divert

Germany’s attention away from them• Discussions of a possible treaty with

Britain and France did take place but got nowhere

USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Information and image sources– Moreira J., World in Transition – Perspectives on

Modern World History, Singapore : SNP Education Pte Ltd, 2000.

– Kelly N. and Shuter J., As It Was Lived – A History of the Modern World, Singapore : Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd, 2000.

– Lim S H, Tham Y P, Wang Z and Yeo L, Inroads – Modern World History, Singapore : Oxford University Press, 2000.

– Tate N., A History of the Modern World, Singapore : Federal Publications, 1995.

The Communist Party in Germany attracted much support during the Great Depression

The Germans were fearful of what happened under communism in the USSR

They saw Hitler and the Nazi Party as the most likely saviour against communism

Hitler was staunchly anti-communist and persecuted the communists in Germany. Why? See Mein Kampf.

HITLER & COMMUNISM

“Written” while he was in prison in 1923-24, Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), it sets forth Hiltler’s political philosophy and his plan for German conquest.

Main beliefs of the Nazi movement

A Master Race : The German people were a superior race – the Aryans. Remain ‘racially pure’ and not inter-mix with other races

The Jews : Destroyers of culture. Liars and parasites. Hitler also hated blacks and gypsies.

HITLER & COMMUNISM

Born April 20, 1889, in Braunau-on-the-Inn, AustriaDied on April 29, 1945 in Berlin, Germany

Conquest – Lebensraum : Germany needed living space. For Hitler, this was to be in the east. Hitler expected Germany to conquer Russian land and create living space for Germans.

Communism : He claimed that the Bolshevik Revolution in Germany was an attempt by the Jews to achieve world domination. Communists thus were to be treated as a hated enemy.

HITLER & COMMUNISM

Born April 20, 1889, in Braunau-on-the-Inn, AustriaDied on April 29, 1945 in Berlin, Germany

HITLER & COMMUNISM

"And so I believe to-day that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. In standing guard

against the Jew I am defending the handiwork of

the Lord."

1927 : Kellogg-Briand Pact pledging to 1927 : Kellogg-Briand Pact pledging to maintain world peace maintain world peace Treaty between the Treaty between the United States and other Powers providing for the United States and other Powers providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. Signed at Paris, August 27, 1928.Signed at Paris, August 27, 1928.

1928 : Soviet Foreign Secretary, Litvinov, 1928 : Soviet Foreign Secretary, Litvinov, proposed at the League of Nations that proposed at the League of Nations that all countries give up their weaponsall countries give up their weapons

1932 : Treaties of Friendship with Poland 1932 : Treaties of Friendship with Poland and Franceand France

1934 : Joined the League of Nations 1934 : Joined the League of Nations called for called for principle of ‘Collective Security’ – friendly should unite principle of ‘Collective Security’ – friendly should unite together to deter aggressiontogether to deter aggression