Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yes he did before 1941 and Barbarossa there was 1939 when Russia attacked Poland and 1940 when Soviet Russia attacked Finland and Romania stealing territories from both countries. Who attacked first?
Its hard for you to reject Soviet propaganda who never admited that Stalin was the aggressive side in WWII. Read this:
German–Soviet Axis talks
In October and November 1940, German–Soviet Axis talks occurred concerning the Soviet Union's potential entry as a fourth Axis Power. The negotiations included a two-day Berlin conference between Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, followed by both countries trading written proposed agreements. Germany never responded to a November 25, 1940, Soviet proposal, leaving the negotiations unresolved. Germany broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in June 1941 by invading the Soviet Union.
Right, that "entry" was proposed as much as Stalin was "offered" the Marchall's plan aid...
It has got nothing to do with "propaganda," it's just my personal belief that Stalin didn't trust anyone ( talking about the West,) he could sense that the world war was coming and he was trying to position his country the best he could under the circumstances; at this point the "buffer zones" were essential indeed. The size of territory mattered.
It's called "collateral damage"; after all Russians didn't end up in Central Europe by accident.
I am not a big fan of a Russian boot all over Europe, but I can see why it happened.
If you see why it happened and understand that Stalin disregarded all previous agreements and established puppet governments in Central Europe, against wishes of these countries, can't you see how this caused the alleis to stop thinking about Soviet Russia as an ally?
Remember this was happening 1944 well before the end of war.
Taking in consideration the history of relations between Russia and Poland ( and particularly the faith of thousands of Russian servicemen murdered in Polish camps back in 1919-20ies,) there is no surprise that Poland was not trusted by Stalin.
What Soviet servicemen were murdered in Poland in 1919-1920? As I recall in 1920 Poland was still fighting for its independence with the Soviets. Do you have any reliable source other than Russian newspaper?
Right, that "entry" was proposed as much as Stalin was "offered" the Marchall's plan aid...
It has got nothing to do with "propaganda," it's just my personal belief that Stalin didn't trust anyone ( talking about the West,) he could sense that the world war was coming and he was trying to position his country the best he could under the circumstances; at this point the "buffer zones" were essential indeed. The size of territory mattered.
And this was an excuse to attack Poland, Finland and Romania? The way the world saw it Stalin cooperated with Germans Read this:
What Soviet servicemen were murdered in Poland in 1919-1920? As I recall in 1920 Poland was still fighting for its independence with the Soviets. Do you have any reliable source other than Russian newspaper?
If you see why it happened and understand that Stalin disregarded all previous agreements and established puppet government in Central Europe, against wishes of these countries, you see how this caused the alleis to stop thinking about Soviet Russia as an ally.
No? Remember this was happening 1944 well before the end of war.
Are you telling me that Stalin was EVER regarded as a TRUE ally by the Western Powers before that happened?
I don't see anything about any murders in the article you quoted. Did you read it?
The issue was finally settled in 2004, where a joint team of Polish and Russian historians (prof. Waldemar Rezmer and prof. Zbigniew Karpus from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and prof. Gennady Matveyev from Moscow State University), after reexamining documents from Polish and Russian archives published their results (printed in Russia by Federal Agency for Russian Archives). Their findings show that the number of Russian POWs can be estimated at between 80,000 and 85,000, and that the number of deaths in the camps can be estimated from 16,000 (Karpus, Rezmer) to 20,000 (Matveyev). Existing documents and proofs does not also confirm thesis made by many Russian historians that Russian POWs were specially exterminated in Polish camps because of their nationality, religion or other
issues. [1][9] They also show that the main cause of death were various illnesses and epidemics (influenza, typhus, cholera and dysentery), noting that these diseases also took a heavy toll among
fighting soldiers and the civilian population. [1]
( You think Stalin was not making his conclusions?
He was.)
Not even close to secret paragraphs of Ribbentrop-Molotov and subsequent Russian aggression on Poland.
Hitler attacked Poland together with Stalin. What are you comparing here?
Are you telling me that Stalin was EVER regarded as a TRUE ally by the Western Powers before that happened?
Of course. Not as friend but ally. In
1944 after Stalin decided to occupy the countries of Central Europe by installing puppet governments against wishes of these countries and agreements with the allies, he slowly moved to the position of enemy. It was clearly his choice.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.