2. SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY 1918-1941 (PART III)

3. THE NAZI-SOVIET PACT 1939 Stalin knew that USSR was too weak to defeat Germany Still building up USSR’s industries Did not want to risk war unless he could win Since he could not trust Britain and France, the alternative was to come to terms with Germany Signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in Aug 1939 Agreed to divide Poland among themselves –USSR would remain neutral in the imminent war along Germany’s eastern frontier with Poland –Germany would not stop USSR from taking over the eastern part of Poland as well as Estonia and Latvia –Germany agreed later not to oppose USSR taking over Lithuania as well

4. THE NAZI-SOVIET PACT 1939

6. WHY STALIN SIGNED THE PACT 1.Recovery of lost USSR territories 2.Gained time for Stalin 3.Stalin’s worry about fighting a war on two fronts 4.Loss of confidence in Britain and France 1.Recovery of lost USSR territories 2.Gained time for Stalin 3.Stalin’s worry about fighting a war on two fronts 4.Loss of confidence in Britain and France

7. Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov signs the Nazi-Soviet Non- aggression Pact while German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop and Soviet leader Stalin look on under a portrait of Lenin, August 23, 1939.

9. NAZI LEADERS AFTER SIGNING THE PACT WITH USSR Upon signing the mutual non-aggression pact, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop (center) boasted that he could "fill a chest with all the treaties that he had violated." (Germany violated this treaty after twenty-two months.) NAZI LEADERS AFTER SIGNING THE PACT WITH USSR Upon signing the mutual non-aggression pact, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop (center) boasted that he could "fill a chest with all the treaties that he had violated." (Germany violated this treaty after twenty-two months.)

10. 1.Recovery of lost USSR territories Land lost in the Brest-Litovsk Treaty Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania Secret agreement that Russia could recover territory lost to Poland during the Russian civil war period Advantage of moving USSR’s western frontier further away from the main cities and industries buffer zoneIn the event of war with Germany, German forces would have to fight through all these territories before getting to USSR ie creation of a buffer zone WHY STALIN SIGNED THE PACT

12. 2.Gained time for Stalin More time to build up his armed forces Why? USSR would be in a better position to fight Germany then Probably one reason why the USSR defeated Germany later in WWII WHY STALIN SIGNED THE PACT

13. 3.Stalin’s worry about fighting a war on two fronts West : Against Germany East : Against Japan Limit German expansion to the east by redirecting it to the West towards France “Front seat” to watch the Western powers slug it out with Germany WHY STALIN SIGNED THE PACT

14. 3.Stalin’s worry about fighting a war on two fronts 1937 : China at war with Japan USSR supported China Stalin feared a Japanese attack on Soviet territories in East Asia Did not want to fight a war there and in Europe This war between Japan and USSR never materialized but it seemed very likely at that time WHY STALIN SIGNED THE PACT

15. WORLD WAR II WWII started in Sep 1939 with Hitler’s invasion of Poland on 1 Sep 1939WWII started in Sep 1939 with Hitler’s invasion of Poland on 1 Sep 1939 As agreed in the Nazi-Soviet Pact, Stalin moved into eastern Poland, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania at the same timeAs agreed in the Nazi-Soviet Pact, Stalin moved into eastern Poland, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania at the same time Less than 2 years later, in June 1941, Germany attacked USSRLess than 2 years later, in June 1941, Germany attacked USSR There was no declaration of war by GermanyThere was no declaration of war by Germany 3,000,000 German troops poured into USSR in one of the biggest invasions in world history3,000,000 German troops poured into USSR in one of the biggest invasions in world history The Soviet army was swept before itThe Soviet army was swept before it Thus began what the Russians call “The Great Patriot War”Thus began what the Russians call “The Great Patriot War”

16. German attack on USSR 1941 WORLD WAR II

17. 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.