I find it extremely curious that everyone has forgotten the Nazi-Soviet pact... You know, the one where Stalin and Hitler declared a cease-fire, and carved up Poland?
Quote:
Then a treaty was signed which stunned the world - the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed in August 1939. That both countries were talking to one another surprised Europe considering the hatred between Hitler and Stalin. Neither Hitler or Stalin was prepared to sign the document themselves. Instead the pact was signed by the foreign ministers of Germany and Russia - Ribbentrop and Molotov. The USSR and Germany agreed not to go to war with the other for ten years. There was also a secret clause - the Soviet Union would do nothing if Germany attacked Poland; in fact, both agreed to carve up Poland between themselves.
Why did the Soviet Union sign such a treaty with a country that had all but sworn to wipe Russia off the face of the earth ? Russia simply did not have the military force to cope with a German attack and Stalin knew it. The pact brought him time. Germany, for her part, could concentrate all her resources on the attack on Poland knowing that Russia would not respond in an aggressive manner.
On September 1st 1939, Germany attacked Poland.
|
Source:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1939.htm
Any thoughts?
PS: Putin scares me very, very much. His party promotes a very unhealthy kind of nationalism, which I believe will lead to serious problems down the road. It is already mortally dangerous for anyone with dark skin or Chechen-like features to walk the streets. It will only get worse.
I'm travelling to Russia in 3 days, so I'll have a chance to ask around what the consensus really is.