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The Origins and the Causes of the First World War - What were the main 'trigger causes'? - The Nazi-Soviet Pact

Q: When did the Germany and the USSR start to become closer?

May 1938: new Berlin ambassador, Meretalov, r eceived instructions to improve 'commercial' relations ^^ July 1938: Governments reached an oral agreement on ending hostile press campaigns

Q: What internal change after the Munich Agreement demonstrated that there was a positive campaign within the Soviet Union to improve relations with Germany?

May 1939: Replacement of Maxim Litvinov as Commissar for Foreign Affairs by V yacheslav Molotov: Molotov had the power to make major policy changes because he was a member of the Politburo Whereas, Litvinov had been advocate of collective security and was moreover a Jew Although it was agreed generally that Stalin was just KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN

Q: What was the final straw in pushing the USSR into Germany's arms?

mid-August 1939: British-French-Soviet military negotiations in Moscow crumbled

Q: When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact Signed?

23rd August 1939: After only one day's negotiation

Q: What were the terms of the Nazi Soviet Pact?

Public: Non-Aggression Treaty lasting 10 years Private: Divided territories between the German and Soviet borders into 'spheres of influence': Germany: Poland , west of the rivers Narew, Vistula and San Part of Lithuania Soviet: rest of Poland rest of Lithuania Estonia Latvia Finland Germany expressed disinterest in the Balkans, and recognised Russia's interest in the Romanian territory of Bessarabia Hitler, in short, received tacit Soviet approval to fulfil his designs on Danzig and the Polish Corridor

Q: What quote summarises the view that the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was the fault of Britain and France rather than the USSR?

A.J.P taylor commented; ' it is difficult to see what other course Soviet Russia could have followed' in the light of western indifference Also why, the destruction of Poland was any worse than that of the allies and Czechoslovakia

6 important questions on The Origins and the Causes of the First World War - What were the main 'trigger causes'? - The Nazi-Soviet Pact

When did the Germany and the USSR start to become closer?

May 1938: new Berlin ambassador, Meretalov, received instructions to improve 'commercial' relations ^^

July 1938: Governments reached an oral agreement on ending hostile press campaigns

What internal change after the Munich Agreement demonstrated that there was a positive campaign within the Soviet Union to improve relations with Germany?

May 1939: Replacement of Maxim Litvinov as Commissar for Foreign Affairs by Vyacheslav Molotov:

Molotov had the power to make major policy changes because he was a member of the Politburo
Whereas, Litvinov had been advocate of collective securityand was moreover a Jew

Although it was agreed generally that Stalin was just KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN

What was the final straw in pushing the USSR into Germany's arms?

mid-August 1939: British-French-Soviet military negotiations in Moscow crumbled

When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact Signed?

23rd August 1939: After only one day's negotiation

What were the terms of the Nazi Soviet Pact?

Public:

Non-Aggression Treaty lasting 10 years

Private:
Divided territories between the German and Soviet borders into 'spheres of influence':

Germany:

Poland, west of the rivers Narew, Vistula and San
Part of Lithuania

Soviet:

rest of Poland
rest of Lithuania
Estonia
Latvia
Finland

Germany expressed disinterest in the Balkans, and recognised Russia's interest in the Romanian territory of Bessarabia

Hitler, in short, received tacit Soviet approval to fulfil his designs on Danzig and the Polish Corridor

What quote summarises the view that the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was the fault of Britain and France rather than the USSR?

A.J.P taylor commented; "it is difficult to see what other course Soviet Russia could have followed' in the light of western indifference

Also why, the destruction of Poland was any worse than that of the allies and Czechoslovakia