Hey, I'm writing a paper on the history of Soviet-German relations from 1919-1941 and what was the key moment(s) it changed. The essay has to be under 750 words and if you think I missed something, something sounds odd, or something is just plain wrong, please point it out to me. Currently at 743 words.
Thanks!
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Of the nations that had escaped World War One intact, Germany and the Soviet Union were without a doubt, the biggest losers of the war. Germany was forced to pay massive reparations, to demilitarize their army, and give up large amounts of territory while transitioning from an autocratic to a democratic government, one that was incredibly unpopular for the signing of the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. The Soviet Union had suffered more casualties than any other nation, was forced to watch multiple former Imperial territory gain independence, fought a civil war, and was suffering international isolation due to their radical ideology in the form of Communism. German-Soviet relations went through three distinct phases; first, a period of cooperation forced by the diplomatic isolation of the powers, then a cooling with the rise of Fascism in Germany, and finally on the eve of World War II, a de facto alliance would be established that would later be broken with the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany.
With the demilitarization of Germany, the most powerful force in Europe was the Army of the French Republic, along with her ally, Poland. Though the Soviet Union had hoped for a revolution in Germany, the war against Poland, a traditional German enemy, led the Soviet Union to seek an agreement with Germany, in the forms of the Treaty of Rapallo and the Treaty of Berlin. These treaties benefited both of these states enormously through the mutual cooperation between the two. Germany was limited in arms production and of training men to become soldiers and pilots. The Soviets offered Germany the ability to train men and manufacture weapons deep within the Soviet Union, away from the prying eyes of the League of Nations. In return, the Soviets would benefit from increased trade with Germany, as well as technological, industrial, and military doctrine aid, all of which the Soviets were lagging behind. Though trade was not at the level of before World War One, it was increasing steadily, and the two powers saw one another as their only potential ally in a sea of hostile powers.
Eventually, Weimar Germany and the Soviet Union broke their diplomatic isolation, and both began signing treaties with other Western Powers, including Germany joining the League of Nations, reducing the dependence on one another. However, the relationship may have stayed amiable were it not for Adolf Hitler seizing power in Germany in 1934, which signaled a major shift in relations from cooperation to near hostility. Hitler seizing power was no doubt the major turning point in German-Soviet relations. Although the German-Soviet relationship seemed to have a potentially solid foundation, Hitlers ideology made Communism his dreaded enemy. Hitlers disregarding of the Treaty of Versailles led Germany to become less dependent on the Soviet Union, and was able to once again build their war machine in Germany itself. Germanys decreased dependence on Soviet trade and Hitlers ideological views led him to not only try to continue the détente began by the Weimar republic with the Western Powers, but also to seek alliances with Italy and Japan in the form of the Anti-Comintern pact, an alliance created to stem Soviet power. The new antagonism was highlighted further when Germany supported the Nationalists against the Soviet-backed Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.
Until it became clear that the Western democracies would go to war with Germany over Poland, Hitler was hesitant to create closer political ties with the Soviet Union. After Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom guaranteed Polish independence, Hitler, facing a potential wartime blockade and a desperate need for supplies was forced to make a deal with the Soviets. In the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to an economic agreement to give Germany war supplies, the Soviet Union technology, and a political agreement for the division of Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres, securing Germany while it would fight the Western democracies, and the Soviet Union while going through the purge of the Soviet nation.
German-Soviet relations were doomed by Hitlers erraticism and his focus to destroy Communism and by extension, the Soviet Union. Though he could work with the Soviet Union on a temporary basis, as shown by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Hitler always was determined to destroy the Soviet Union. When Hitler had defeated France and forced Britain into a stalemate, he was free to focus on the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the battle between fascism and communism.
Thanks!
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Of the nations that had escaped World War One intact, Germany and the Soviet Union were without a doubt, the biggest losers of the war. Germany was forced to pay massive reparations, to demilitarize their army, and give up large amounts of territory while transitioning from an autocratic to a democratic government, one that was incredibly unpopular for the signing of the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. The Soviet Union had suffered more casualties than any other nation, was forced to watch multiple former Imperial territory gain independence, fought a civil war, and was suffering international isolation due to their radical ideology in the form of Communism. German-Soviet relations went through three distinct phases; first, a period of cooperation forced by the diplomatic isolation of the powers, then a cooling with the rise of Fascism in Germany, and finally on the eve of World War II, a de facto alliance would be established that would later be broken with the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany.
With the demilitarization of Germany, the most powerful force in Europe was the Army of the French Republic, along with her ally, Poland. Though the Soviet Union had hoped for a revolution in Germany, the war against Poland, a traditional German enemy, led the Soviet Union to seek an agreement with Germany, in the forms of the Treaty of Rapallo and the Treaty of Berlin. These treaties benefited both of these states enormously through the mutual cooperation between the two. Germany was limited in arms production and of training men to become soldiers and pilots. The Soviets offered Germany the ability to train men and manufacture weapons deep within the Soviet Union, away from the prying eyes of the League of Nations. In return, the Soviets would benefit from increased trade with Germany, as well as technological, industrial, and military doctrine aid, all of which the Soviets were lagging behind. Though trade was not at the level of before World War One, it was increasing steadily, and the two powers saw one another as their only potential ally in a sea of hostile powers.
Eventually, Weimar Germany and the Soviet Union broke their diplomatic isolation, and both began signing treaties with other Western Powers, including Germany joining the League of Nations, reducing the dependence on one another. However, the relationship may have stayed amiable were it not for Adolf Hitler seizing power in Germany in 1934, which signaled a major shift in relations from cooperation to near hostility. Hitler seizing power was no doubt the major turning point in German-Soviet relations. Although the German-Soviet relationship seemed to have a potentially solid foundation, Hitlers ideology made Communism his dreaded enemy. Hitlers disregarding of the Treaty of Versailles led Germany to become less dependent on the Soviet Union, and was able to once again build their war machine in Germany itself. Germanys decreased dependence on Soviet trade and Hitlers ideological views led him to not only try to continue the détente began by the Weimar republic with the Western Powers, but also to seek alliances with Italy and Japan in the form of the Anti-Comintern pact, an alliance created to stem Soviet power. The new antagonism was highlighted further when Germany supported the Nationalists against the Soviet-backed Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.
Until it became clear that the Western democracies would go to war with Germany over Poland, Hitler was hesitant to create closer political ties with the Soviet Union. After Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom guaranteed Polish independence, Hitler, facing a potential wartime blockade and a desperate need for supplies was forced to make a deal with the Soviets. In the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to an economic agreement to give Germany war supplies, the Soviet Union technology, and a political agreement for the division of Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres, securing Germany while it would fight the Western democracies, and the Soviet Union while going through the purge of the Soviet nation.
German-Soviet relations were doomed by Hitlers erraticism and his focus to destroy Communism and by extension, the Soviet Union. Though he could work with the Soviet Union on a temporary basis, as shown by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Hitler always was determined to destroy the Soviet Union. When Hitler had defeated France and forced Britain into a stalemate, he was free to focus on the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the battle between fascism and communism.
