AS FP2 : Lenin's foreign policy, 1918 - 1924 Flashcards
(16 cards)
Foreign Intervention
Why were normal foreign relations not possible for the Bolsheviks?
Normal foreign relations were not possible for Lenin and the Bolsheviks in 1918, the new regime had gained a breathing space by the ‘Treaty of Brest Litovsk’, but by negotiating peace with Germany and deserting its war time allies exposed the Bolsheviks to isolation and international hostility.
Foreign Intervention
What was foreign intervention like in Russia?
From 1918 to 1920, foreign troops were stationed in widespread areas of the conflict, from the batlic sea, black sea and far east. The number of troops engaged was small, and they did little direct fighting, however at the time foreign intervention seemed like an essential threat to the survival of Russia.
- The US provided the largest intervention forces, with roughly 15000.
- France was eager to support white armies in the south but had policy differences with Britain.
- There was little to no co-ordination between the foreign forces.
Foreign Intervention
How did the Britain intervene in Russia?
Britain deploted naval forces in the Baltic sea and the Black sea, but only very small detachments of troops. Some British politicians wanted a maximum effort to smash bolshevism, but socialists and trade unionists strongly opposed intervention, a vocal ‘Hands of Russia’ movement influenced opinion in 1919 and 1920.
In the end, the British Government settled on a futile, contradictory policy of ‘no interference in Russia but aiding white armies when possible’.
Foreign Intervention
Was there peace attempted?
In 1919 a secret American diplomatic mission to Moscow briefly raised hopes for the possibility of peace, with President Wilson sending diplomat William C Bullit on a secret mission.
Due to the blockade, Lenin was willing to make concessions. Lenin agreed to the peace however it was not backed by the allies and it lapsed. The civil war continued until the Bolsheviks achieved total victory.
Foreign Intervention
What was Russia’s relationship with the Baltic States under Lenin?
Late in 1918 the Baltics were drawn into the Civil war and proclomations for independence for Lithuania, (16th Feb), Estonia (24th Feb) and Latvia (18th November 1925) were drawn up.
By 1920, white armies withdrew from the Baltic states and the Baltics made seperate peaces with the USSR.
- Estonia, Treaty of Tartu 2.2.20
- Lithuania, Soviet-Lithuanian treaty, 12.7.20
- Latvia, Latvian-Soviet treaty, 15.8.20
Foreign Intervention
What was the impact of foreign intervention in Russia?
Foreign intervention did not bring down the soviet regime, they were on such a small scale with so limited co-ordination between them ans such limited direct military action that there was little chance of them doing so.
George Kennan claimed that the interventions, although small, poisoned relations between the West and Russia in the long term.
The Comintern
What was the commintern?
The commintern was founded in 1919 and was the basis for spreading international revolution.
The Comintern
Describe the first, second and third comminterns.
The First Commintern was attended by 50 delegates and there was great optimsim about the spread of revoltution. The Second Comintern took place in 1920, there was disappointment that the Russo-Polish war hadn’t been a spring baord for spreading communist revolution into Poland.
The Third Commintern was in 1920 and it was marred by the dawning realisation that world revolution was not as close as believed, with communist uprisings, such as the Spartacist Uprising in Germany, being crushed. AGainst all expectations, Bolshevik Russia was the only communist state.
There was now a changed outlook among the Bolshevik leadership about the role that international revolution would play in domestic affairs.
Russo-Polish War
What was the Russo-Polish war?
Despite the largely defeated Polish army, in 1920 the Bolsheviks were still fighting a newly independent Poland. The Polish inflicted a huge defeat on the soviets in August of 1920 and the Treaty of Riga in 1921 had lefr poland in control of substantial areas of Lithuania, Belorussia and Ukraine.
Ending diplomatic isolation
How had Bolshevik Russia been diplomatically isolated?
Bolshevik Russia had been diplomatically isolated in 1921. Along with germany it had been excluded from the League of Nations and the gulf in ideology, ignorance and fear drove a wedge between Russia in Europe. There was an air of mutual suspicion.
Ending diplomatic isolation
How did Russia gain international recognition from Britain?
Russia gained international recognition from Britain through trade agreements, the first was in 1921 meaning that Britain had effectively recognised the existence of the Soviet State.
Ending diplomatic isolation
What was the context of Treaty of Rapallo?
Both Germany and Russia were pariah states, in 1921 there was several discussions between Chicherin and Germany leading to a 1922 visit to the Genoa conference.
Ending diplomatic isolation
What was the outcome of the Treaty of Rapallo?
Signed 1922
- Germany agreed to return the reparations and land taken from the treaty of brest litovsk.
- Both countries agreed not to partake in trade embargos, “mutual goodwill” in commercial and economic relations.
- Germany was allowed to carry out secret military training and developed new weaponry in the USSR which benefited both countries.
- USSR benefited from German expertise in economy.
Ending diplomatic isolation
What was the Treaty of Berlin?
The Treaty of Berlin was a non-agression pact signed in 1926 that reaffirmed the terms of Rapello.
Zinoviev Letter
What was the Zinoviev letter?
The Zinoviev letter was a forgery produced to influence public opinion against the British labout party in the run up to the 1924 election.
Zinoviev Letter
What were the reprecussions of the Zinoviev Letter?
The letter affected Britain more than it affected the USSR. The most significant effect was on Anglo-Sovet relations ; the implications that the USSR was trying to spread communism soured relations and the diplomatic isolation of Russia was strenghtened. The Anglo-Soviet treaty was never rattified.
