AICE International History Text pages 59-61 Problems in Europe 1919-1933

The USSR and Europe For the first three years after the Bolsheviks came to power relations between the new government and the western countries deteriorated to the point of open war Mainly because Bolsheviks tried to spread the revolution further Especially into Germany Floods of propaganda into Germany to turn them against their capitalist masters

The USSR and Europe Lenin called representatives from communist parties all over the world to a conference in Moscow in March 1919 Third International – Comintern Bring the world’s communists under Russian leadership Teach how to organize strikes and uprisings “in a year the whole of Europe will be communist”

The USSR and Europe Britain, France, US, Czechoslovakia, Japan supported the Mensheviks (Whites) in the civil war against the Bolsheviks (Reds) because of fear of communism Not invited to Versailles Insistence by France

The USSR and Europe By the middle of 1920, Britain, France, US, Czechoslovakia, and Japan admitted failure and withdrew troops from Russia Communist revolutions in Germany and Hungary had failed Russia exhausted by civil war Lenin acknowledged Russia needed peaceful coexistence and cooperation from capitalists

USSR and Britain Britain was suspicious of Russia’s communist government, but did want to trade Britain was one of the first to formally recognize Russia’s new Bolshevik government: Anglo- Russian trade treaty in 1921 Genoa Conference (1922) suggested that Bolsheviks pay war debts

USSR and Britain Relations improved in 1924 with full diplomatic recognition New trade treaty signed Loan proposed From 1924-1929 relations soured when Brits claimed to have found evidence of Russians plotting with British communists to overthrow government

USSR and Britain 1929 diplomatic relations improved and trade agreement signed in 1930 In 1932 trade agreement cancelled In retaliation, Russia arrested engineers working in Moscow British placed embargo on imports from Russia Stalin nervous about Hitler so began to try to improve relations with Britain

USSR and Germany Both were viewed as outcasts in Europe after World War I Treaty of Rapallo (1921) Established relations and trade agreements between the two countries France and Poland were uncomfortable with the treaty Lasts until 1930s when Nazi’s rise in Germany Nazi’s don’t like communism

USSR and France French were particularly resentful of Bolsheviks – Treaty of Brest- Litovsk ended Franco-Russian alliance Threat of revolution in France was very realistic France was the one who refused to allow Russia in peace talks Did not become friendly again until the 1930s when Nazi’s were in the rise in Germany