Stalin and the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945

I. The Road to War

A.Lenins 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 revolutionmust 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 Hitlers
demands to avoid war known as appeasement; in
Stalins 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 ignoredfelt 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.

socialisthow 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 Hitlers
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 frontHitler 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 secretmillions of German
soldiers moved to border with USSR (invasion
launched June 22, 1941).

B.Stalins 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 wereGB 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: Everythings 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. Stalins 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 USSRs 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?