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Stalin and the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 I. The Road to War A. Lenin’s Legacy in Foreign Affairs 1. After revolution in 1917, Lenin feared capitalist states would “gang up” on USSR (Civil War); need to delay, be on defensive. 2. Stalin adopt this viewpoint, USSR not strong enough to spread revolution—must work to ensure survival of USSR in hostile world by following lowest-risk policy (Socialism in One Country) B. The German Threat, 1933-1936 1. After Civil War, USSR initially sought good relations with Germany 1924-1933 (both diplomatically alone in post-WWI world). 2. With rise of Hitler and Nazis, this became impossible: anti-Communism in Germany, antiSoviet propaganda, lebensraum. 3. Stalin to look to West for allies; admitted into League of Nations 1934, collective security and “mutual assistance” of France, Czech., USSR. 4. Collective Security good idea, bad practice: neither France nor GB willing to risk war for ideals (WWI). C. Threat Intensifies, 1936-1939 1. 1936 Germany, Italy, Japan (fascist) formed AntiComintern Pact aimed at USSR (both Western, Eastern borders). 2. Stalin increases efforts to find allies in West; unsuccessful: Communism, famine, Purges led countries to not trust USSR, Stalin. 3. 1938 France, GB, Italy, Germany sign Munich Agreement: detached Sudetenland (Germans) from Czechoslovakia, gave it to Germany; Hitler threatened war if not (against Versailles), but GB, France too resistant to risk war to stop Hitler. 4. In West, policy of GB, France giving in to Hitler’s demands to avoid war known as “appeasement”; in Stalin’s eyes, meeting of anti-Soviet nations intent on giving Germany free hand to attack isolated USSR; Stalin: “A new imperialist war is inevitable.” 5. Despite continued attempts to reach agreement with France, GB Stalin ignored—felt they could not trust Stalin. 6. Left Stalin only one option: cannot form alliance against Germany, must form alliance with Germany. D. The Nazi-Soviet Pact 1. 1939 Germany and USSR sign 10-year nonaggression pact; also included trade details for each country. 2. Secret Protocol: USSR to take over Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), Eastern half of Poland after German invasion. 3. Ideologically, fascism, communism mortal enemies: nationalism v. internationalism, national consciousness v. class consciousness, capitalist v. socialist—how could they sign peace treaty? 4. Pragmatism: Stalin needed time to industrialize, France, GB not willing to give collective security, stand up to Hitler; Hitler needed raw materials USSR could supply, wanted to secure Easter border before attack on France (WWI). 5. Nazi-Soviet Pact praised inside USSR for genius of Stalin for diplomatic master-stroke: safeguarded security in West that was prime diplomatic objective of Lenin. 6. Problems: Stalin did not take seriously Hitler’s statements in Mein Kampf about superiority of Aryan race, inferiority of Slavic peoples, German expansion into east, Russia for lebensraum; quicker-than-expected German victory over France June 1940 eliminated western front—Hitler could now focus energy on expansion east. II. The Soviet Union at War A. The German Invasion, 1941 1. Soon after completion of Nazi-Soviet Pact, Germany invades, conquers Poland, starts WWII. 2. France invaded, conquered 1940; GB alone against Hitler, seems only matter of time before GB falls. 3. Incredible successes in West encourages Hitler to go ahead with plans to invade USSR; invasion so large, could not be kept secret—millions of German soldiers moved to border with USSR (invasion launched June 22, 1941). B. Stalin’s Attitude toward Invasion 1. Stalin incredulous Hitler would risk two-front war; until defeat of GB, Hitler would not invade. 2. Did not dispute movements of wehrmacht, thought British counter-intelligence made movements seem more menacing than really were—GB wanted USSR to attack Germany first. 3. Stalin refused to take any action that would provoke Hitler in any way; had spies, informers who reported of imminent invasion arrested, shot. 4. German invasion in June took Stalin by complete surprise, retreated to dacha and not heard from or seen for two days; Germans overrun vast territory while USSR left with no leadership, direction (purge of Red Army); Stalin: “Everything’s lost. I give up. Lenin left us a great legacy and we f****d it up.” 5. Operation Barbarossa unprecedented in history of warfare, Germans invaded with: a) 3,000,000 troops (vs. 600,000 with Napoleon in 1812) b) 4,000 tanks c) 3,000 aircraft 6. Thanks to rapid industrialization, USSR could respond with: a) 3,000,000 troops b) 16,000 tanks c) 9,000 aircraft 7. Would take time for USSR to gather, prepare, deploy forces; initiative lay with Germany for moment. C. Failure of German Forces to Take USSR 1. Stalin’s recovery of nerve a) After depression, Stalin recommitted to war effort. b) Stays in Moscow as wehrmacht approaches 2. Lateness of launching Barbarossa (delayed 6 weeks) 3. “General Winter” 4. Nazi Racism a) Many Russians weary of Stalin welcomed Germans b) Wanted to help wehrmacht, but harsh treatment of “inferior races” turned local population against Germans c) Ferocity of resistance to Germans helps give name Great Patriotic War 5. Key victories of Stalingrad and Kursk showed strength of USSR’s superior numbers in war of attrition; battered, devastated German army surrendered May 1945. 6. Stalin praised as war hero, savior of Soviet Union, socialism: justified?