The Nazi threat

Question 1

What following developments combined to convince Stalin that Hitler’s germany was a deadly menace?

Answer 1

• Violent nazi attacks on the KPD
• The signiing of a German-Polish treaty in 1934, which increased the hreat to the USSR’s western borders
• Nazi propaganda against Soviet Communism, which was as rabid as its anti-semitism

Question 2

What was one of the earliest opportunities for Stalin to find allies against Germany?

Answer 2

• Acceptance into the LoN in 1934
• The league provided a platform for the USSR to call for the adoption of the principle of collective security in international affiars
• In the 1930s collective security was more impressive in principle than practice, France and Britain did not want to risk war to uphold it

Question 3

What was the 1938 Munich agreement?

Answer 3

• Climax to Czechoslovakia crisis, signed by France, Britain, Italy and Germany
• Hitler took the Sudetenland, threatned invasion if his requirements were not met

Question 4

How did Stalin interpret the Munich agreement?

Answer 4

• Gathering of the anti-Soviet nations of Europe , intent on giving Germany a free hand to attack a diplomatically isolated USSR
• Attempted to answer these worries by sending telegrams asking Britain and France for an alliance, which went unanswered

Question 5

What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact?

Answer 5

Both Germany and Russia pledged to keep peace between each other for a minimum of 10 years

Question 6

What was also agreed in the ‘Secret Additional Protocol’ of this pact?

Answer 6

USSR would take over the baltic states and that Poland would later be divided between Germany and the USSR

Question 7

How did the Nazis tear this agreement up?

Answer 7

Operation Barbarossa