• 1939 – Stalin invited Lord
(British Foreign Sec) to discuss anti-German alliance. Britain refused – feared Communism & saw USSR army as weak.
• Aug 1939 – w. war in Poland imminent, Britain sent a
by slow boat. USSR asked if they could send troops into Poland if Hitler invaded → Britain refused.
• On 23 August, 1939, world shocked when USSR and Ger signed ‘'
Why did Anglo-Soviet Talks Fail?
Suspicion
• Chamberlain did not
Stalin (Communist/dictator).
• Stalin thought Britain wanted to
him into war vs Ger.
Choice
• Britain could not send
to Poland. If Stalin allied w. Britain, he have to fight for them.
• Hitler offered peace & ½ of Poland.
Appeasement
• After Munich, Stalin believed Britain would abandon Poland → USSR left fighting Hitler
.
Britain Delayed
• Stalin got fed up w. British
.
Hitler & Russia
• Aug 1939 – Hitler sent
(senior Nazi) to USSR.
• Stalin knew Hitler was lying but did not trust Britain either.
• Options:
◦ Ally w. Britain → war vs Hitler.
◦ Ally w. Germany → ½ of Poland + time to prepare for war vs Hitler.
• 23 Aug 1939 – Stalin signed Pact w. Hitler.
Why did the Nazi-Soviet Pact Happen?
Time to Prepare for War
• Stalin: ‘We got peace for our country for
months, which let us make military preparations’.
Hope to Gain
• USSR benefited if Britain, France & Ger
each other in war.
Unhappy w. Britain
• Stalin insulted by British delays + didn’t trust them → turned to Hitler.
Germany
• Hitler needed USSR alliance – only USSR could defend Poland. Thought Britain would back down if USSR was on his side.
The Shock to the System
• Britain knew of Nazi-Soviet talks (Aug) but Pact shocked British public.
• Hard to believe Communist, Hitler-hating USSR allied w. Nazi, Communist-hating Ger.
• Public decided Pact =
→ aimed at carving up Poland.
Britain & Russia
• 1939 – Stalin invited Lord HALIFAX (British Foreign Sec) to discuss anti-German alliance. Britain refused – feared Communism & saw USSR army as weak.
• Aug 1939 – w. war in Poland imminent, Britain sent a MINOR OFFICIAL by slow boat. USSR asked if they could send troops into Poland if Hitler invaded → Britain refused.
• On 23 August, 1939, world shocked when USSR and Ger signed ‘NON-AGGRESSION PACT'
Why did Anglo-Soviet Talks Fail?
Suspicion
• Chamberlain did not TRUST Stalin (Communist/dictator).
• Stalin thought Britain wanted to TRICK him into war vs Ger.
Choice
• Britain could not send TROOPS to Poland. If Stalin allied w. Britain, he have to fight for them.
• Hitler offered peace & ½ of Poland.
Appeasement
• After Munich, Stalin believed Britain would abandon Poland → USSR left fighting Hitler ALONE.
Britain Delayed
• Stalin got fed up w. British DELAYS.
Hitler & Russia
• Aug 1939 – Hitler sent RIBBENTROP (senior Nazi) to USSR.
• Stalin knew Hitler was lying but did not trust Britain either.
• Options:
◦ Ally w. Britain → war vs Hitler.
◦ Ally w. Germany → ½ of Poland + time to prepare for war vs Hitler.
• 23 Aug 1939 – Stalin signed Pact w. Hitler.
Why did the Nazi-Soviet Pact Happen?
Time to Prepare for War
• Stalin: ‘We got peace for our country for 18 months, which let us make military preparations’.
Hope to Gain
• USSR benefited if Britain, France & Ger EXHAUSTED each other in war.
Unhappy w. Britain
• Stalin insulted by British delays + didn’t trust them → turned to Hitler.
Germany
• Hitler needed USSR alliance – only USSR could defend Poland. Thought Britain would back down if USSR was on his side.
The Shock to the System
• Britain knew of Nazi-Soviet talks (Aug) but Pact shocked British public.
• Hard to believe Communist, Hitler-hating USSR allied w. Nazi, Communist-hating Ger.
• Public decided Pact = CYNICAL LIE → aimed at carving up Poland.
