Transcript Soviet Foreign Policy 1918

SOVIET
FOREIGN
POLICY
1918-1941
(PART II)
STALIN’S FOREIGN POLICY
•
•
•
Stalin continued the
policy of isolationism
with his “Socialism in
One Country”
Sought to promote
peaceful relations with
other countries
Sought economic
cooperation to aid his
industrialization
programmes
STALIN’S FOREIGN POLICY
Two developments on its
borders changed the
direction of Soviet
foreign policy :
1.
2.
In the west, Hitler came into
power and rearmed
Germany in preparation for
conquest
In the east, Japan had
launched attacks against
Manchuria and China
STALIN & NAZI GERMANY
• Hitler and the Nazis came to
power in 1933
• Stalin hoped that the countries
could be on friendly terms
despite Hitler’s hatred for
communism An anti-Comintern Pact
was signed in Nov 1936 between
Germany and Japan (Italy joined in Nov
1937) to jointly fight against
communism
• He realised soon that Hitler was
determined to make Germany a
great power again
• This would make Germany a
threat to the USSR
STALIN & NAZI GERMANY
• Middle of 1930s : Stalin tried to
improve relations with other
countries Common Front Strategy
• This was one way of getting
support against Nazi Germany
• Economically, it would help in
his industrialization efforts
• 1934 : USSR joined the League
of Nations
• 1935 : Stalin signed treaties
with Czechoslovakia and
France. Why?
STALIN & NAZI GERMANY
• Both were neighbours of Nazi
Germany
• Like Stalin, both were worried
about the growth of Germany’s
power
• The treaties promised support
for each other in the event of a
clash with Germany
STALIN & NAZI GERMANY
• 1936 : Stalin sent support to
the Republican forces in the
Spanish Civil War
• Hiller gave his support to the
other side, the Nationalists,
who were against democracy
and communism
• Stalin was afraid that
Germany’s power would grow if
the Nationalists won the civil
war and gained control of Spain
• After 3 years, the Republicans
were defeated
• USSR troops were withdrawn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?
USSR’S RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE
• 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
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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.
HITLER & COMMUNISM

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.
Born April 20, 1889, in Braunau-on-the-Inn, Austria
Died on April 29, 1945 in Berlin, Germany
HITLER & COMMUNISM

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.
Born April 20, 1889, in Braunau-on-the-Inn, Austria
Died 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
maintain world peace Treaty between the United
States and other Powers providing for the renunciation of
war as an instrument of national policy. Signed at Paris,
August 27, 1928.
1928 : Soviet Foreign Secretary, Litvinov,
proposed at the League of Nations that all
countries give up their weapons
1932 : Treaties of Friendship with Poland and
France
1934 : Joined the League of Nations called for
principle of ‘Collective Security’ – friendly should unite
together to deter aggression