Stalin and international relations Flashcards
What had previously established cooperation with Germany?
Treaty of Rapallo in 1922 and Treaty of Berlin in 1926
When was the most intensive period of Soviet cooperation with Germany?
1929-31
The USSR benefitted from German technical expertise for the modernisation of industry and armaments production; Stalin made agreements with German armaments manufacturers to acquire modern weapons
In 1931, Germany and Russia negotiated the continuation of the Berlin treaty
How did the Comintern put Russo-German cooperation under strain?
After the 1928 Comintern Congress, Stalin attacked democratic socialist movements, calling them ‘social fascists’; this meant that the German Communist Party should not cooperate with the German Social Democratic Party
Evidence of Soviet-German military cooperation after the Treaty of Berlin
The vastness of Russia allowed the Germany Army (Reichswehr) to carry out military developments that were forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Areas of operation included:
an aircraft factory at Fili,
a training school for German pilots at Lipetsk,
a facility for practicing tank warfare at Kazan and
a secret joint facility at Samara for developing poison gas weapons.
How did Stalin initially react to the rise of Hitler?
Slow to react - was even pleased about it because it would accelerate the collapse of capitalism
Willing to continue military and naval cooperation
How did the rise of Hitler impact Soviet foreign policy?
Stalin began to shift his interest to collective security and stable relations with Western democracies (however, Stalin kept his options open)
Different views about the nature of Stalin’s foreign policy in the 1930s
‘Zig-zag policy’ - complicated and contradictory
Stalin had an obsession with security - the tactics were unpredictable but the overall objective was always the same
Alexandr Nekrich - always a consistent ‘Stalin Doctrine’ in the 30s of wanting a war between Germany and the capitalist West that would weaken both sides
How did Soviet foreign policy evolve in 1933?
Moved away from isolationism by establishing diplomatic relations with the United States. An American embassy was opened in Moscow, allowing US diplomats to operate within the USSR rather than depending on ‘Riga Watchers’ (American foreign policy experts) who observed from nearby Latvia
e.g. of Riga Watchers - George Kennan and Charles Bohlen
What factors were crucial for Soviet entry into the League of Nations?
US diplomatic recognition
Personal diplomacy of the Foreign Commissar, Maksim Litvinov
US-Soviet common interest
How did Litvinov contribute to Soviet entry into the League of Nations?
Well established as the ‘acceptable face’ of the Soviet regime. His long experience of the West, as well as his polished social background, appealed to Western diplomats
It was a visit to Washington by Litvinov in November 1933 that finalised the agreement to re-open formal relations
How did US-Soviet common interest contribute to Soviet entry into the League of Nations?
Both Stalin and the Americans were concerned about the rise of Japan
Japan had invaded Manchuria in 1931 and seemed set on future militaristic expansion
Bringing the USSR into the League of Nations would strengthen collective security against Japanese aggression
How did entering into the League of Nations represent a radical change in Soviet policy?
Move away from isolationism
Accompanied by him scrapping the hard-line Comintern policy set out in 1928: now announced (in Pravda in 1934) a new official policy to support broad-based ‘popular fronts’. Soviet communism became willing to cooperate with democratic socialism in the fight against fascism
How could you argue that entry into the League of Nations was not necessarily radical?
Stalin was simply aiming to maximise the USSR’s security in response to the tense international situation
When did Stalin sign a non-aggression pact with Czechoslovakia?
Negotiated in December 1932 and made into a 10-year agreement in 1934
When did Stalin sign the Franco-Soviet ‘Pact of Mutual Assistance’?
Negotiated in December 1934 and signed in May 1935
No specific clauses on military cooperation and was vague on the circumstances under which it might be activated
