WW2 - Churchill and Stalin

Question 1

What did Churchill think of Russia?

Answer 1

• Outspoken critic of Bolshevik Revolution 1917
• Sent British forces to fight Lenin’s regime in Russian Civil War 1918-21

Question 2

Hitler’s invasion of USSR

Answer 2

June 1941
Operation Barbossa

Question 3

What did Churchill famously say about why he sided with USSR?

Answer 3

‘If Hitler invaded Hell, I would at least make a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.’

Question 4

What did Churchill believe about the weakness of Russia?

Answer 4

That communism had weakened them and they would soon be destroyed by Hitler.

Question 5

Turning point of the war?

Answer 5

Russia’s resistance to Hitler through the winters of 1941-2

Question 6

What did Churchill not provide sympathy for?

Answer 6

(July 1942 - Feb 1943) Sieges of Stalingrad and Leningrad (Sep 1941 - Jan 1943), and counter attacks in 1943.

Question 7

When was Churchill and Stalin’s first meeting?

Answer 7

1942

Question 8

What did Stalin criticise in 1942 at their first meeting?

Answer 8

failure of Britain to invade Europe.

Question 9

Germany and Russia’s relationship with Britain before war?

Answer 9

Both viewed Britain as the “ultimate enemy”

Question 10

Collier and Halifax’s opinions on an alliance with Russia?

Answer 10

“Simply complicate the task of reconstructing eastern Europe after the war.”

Question 11

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Answer 11

• 23rd August 1939 announced
• Poland divided between 2 countries

Question 12

Military supplies for Russia

Answer 12

• Lend-Lease in early stages and Allied sailors had to travel a long way (casualties high) so this was difficult.
• Send tanks, planes, trucks, guns and rubber.

Question 13

Second front?

Answer 13

• Stalin demanded in July 1941
• Delivered June 1944

Question 14

Russian borders agreed to in Tehran Conference in Nov 1943?

Answer 14

• Curzon line

Question 15

Stalin’s attitude to Poland?

Answer 15

• Katyn Massacre (1943) –> Germans unearthed 22,000 graves of murdered Polish officers. Carried out on Stalin’s ordered in early years of war.
• Warsaw Uprising (1944) –> Polish ‘Home Army’ fought to liberate Warsaw before Red Army. Stalin refused to help and 150,000-200,000 Polish civilians were killed.

Question 16

Red Army in 1945

Answer 16

6 million soldiers in Eastern Europe

Question 17

Percentages agreement?

Answer 17

‘naughty document’

Question 18

What happened to British spies in Russia?

Answer 18

After June 1941 this was discontinued.

Question 19

Churchill and Stalin’s first meeting in August 1942?

Answer 19

‘visit to the Ogre in his den’