Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
93. I was discussing the Soviet-Western allies talks
Fri Nov 7, 2014, 10:51 AM
Nov 2014

That alliance was the one Stalin would have preferred, Stalin knew England and France were limited in what they could do to Russia long term, Germany was in the way. Thus Stalin preferred an alliance with France and Britain provided they give him freedom in Eastern Europe.

When Hitler offered Stalin complete control over everything between Germany and Russia, Stalin jumped at offer (and kept sweetening the deal for Hitler feared a two front war as Germany had fought for Four years during WWI). Giving Stalin what Hitler thought Stalin wanted was a price Hitler was willing to pay to buy off Stalin. Given the situation in Eastern Europe it was to good a deal for Stalin (or whoever else was in control of Russia at that time) to pass up. That was the point I was making and I suspect Putin was making in regards to that deal.

Ask yourself this question, if you were in charge of Russia and Hitler sent you that offer, would you have turned it down? Put yourself in Stalin's shoes, you are dealing with someone whose long term plans involve invading your home land. Your potential allies have all said NO to your plans for defence. Then that enemy makes an offer giving you some space between him and you, would you turn it down knowing that country has the ability to not only take up what he wants, but the territory being offered to you?

Please note, neither Britain nor France declared war on the Soviet Union after the Soviet intervention into Poland. That shows both nations were still hoping for an alliance with Russia against Germany, for that was the Alliance that tied up so many German Troops during WWI that Germany was defeated. Subsequent Soviet acts in Eastern Europe (including taking Bessarabia, occupying the Baltic States and attacking Finland) clearly showed that an at least an understanding existed between Stalin and Hitler from 1939 onward, yet no declaration of war on the Soviet Union. The reason was simple, both Britain and France (and also the US) wanted Russia on their side and willing to give all of Eastern Europe to Russia in exchange for that alliance. In public both France and Britain condemned the Soviet actions between 1939 and 1941, but neither did anything but give a verbal (and sometimes a written) rebuke. Yes France was under German Occupation from June 1940 onward, but Stalin went into Poland in 1939 AND Finland in 1939, thus France had the time to do something but did nothing. Now the occupation of Bessarabia occurred after the fall of France, so France was no longer in a position to speak freely about it, but Britain could and again verbally condemned it but did nothing else (and the same for the US, verbal condemnation but no actual acts that could harm Russia).

Yes, Stalin used the pact to take over the parts of Eastern Europe given to the Soviet Union by Hitler, but the western allies did nothing to oppose those takeovers, i.e. they also agreed to them. Thus Putin's position, was Stalin right in taking up the offer given to him by Hitler? Given Hitler's long term plans, it appears not only Hitler but the Western Allies were willing to pay the price Stalin wanted, Hitler just jumped quicker and more willing to put it down on paper then were the Western Allies AND Hitler was the only country that could object to the Soviet Actions thus German's offer gave Stalin the freedom to do what he wanted, as opposed to Western Allies who were also willing to leave Stalin take those areas, but Stalin would have to fight Hitler for those areas.

From the position of Moscow, the offer was to good to pass up and Stalin took up the offer. That is what Putin is saying and I am saying. Neither one is saying was it something good, but it was an offer to good to pass up.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Awwww. But, ya know, he's just MISUNDERSTOOD, poor Vladdie! MADem Nov 2014 #1
You left out Nuland's cookies. But I never forget them. YUM! freshwest Nov 2014 #32
Delish!!!!! Ha ha! nt MADem Nov 2014 #43
Putin jumped oceans of sharks with that comment steve2470 Nov 2014 #52
call in the RT cheeleader squad DonCoquixote Nov 2014 #2
The real problem is the neo-Nazi fascists in the US and the European Union Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #108
DU Putinistas arriving to defend Comrade Major Putin in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... n/t ColesCountyDem Nov 2014 #3
I dont think the Putin Fan Club will show on this one. 7962 Nov 2014 #4
Is he actively trying to drive eastern Europe more fully into NATO's sphere of influence? LanternWaste Nov 2014 #5
Shark officially Jumped Old Nick Nov 2014 #6
You can't see... 3catwoman3 Nov 2014 #16
True Old Nick Nov 2014 #19
It takes one to see one. graegoyle Nov 2014 #25
I hope this gets some of the Putin fans to rethink his "brilliance" karynnj Nov 2014 #7
That's complete bullshit Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #8
The Onion had it right: christx30 Nov 2014 #22
The Nazi-Britain Non-Aggression Pact TomVilmer Nov 2014 #49
except Germany and Russia took territory with their pact nt arely staircase Nov 2014 #110
Do any of Putin's defenders still want to say he is not an imperialist? Jack Rabbit Nov 2014 #9
... and don't forget a Theocrat BadtotheboneBob Nov 2014 #44
No, we mustn't forget that, either Jack Rabbit Nov 2014 #45
Putin is a Fascist POS, not surprised. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #10
yep PatrynXX Nov 2014 #12
The replies on this thread just show the lack of knowledge of history is vast here newthinking Nov 2014 #11
Well yes thats also true. PatrynXX Nov 2014 #13
agreed. newthinking Nov 2014 #53
It's almost as if they think that had the USSR not inked the non-aggression pact, Hitler KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #14
It also allowed Stalin the time to build a huge army and many thousands of tanks... bvar22 Nov 2014 #41
...^ that 840high Nov 2014 #51
But did Stalin know that Hitler would be stupid enough Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #74
Who sent Stalin the tanks? davidpdx Nov 2014 #90
The pact had a secret protocol dividing Poland and other countries muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #23
The only one embarrassing themself here is you by trying, and failing, GGJohn Nov 2014 #27
Who is "excusing putin"? More like what was the purpose of the article? newthinking Nov 2014 #55
Creative, though unsupported, allegations you've presented us with. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #100
the Chamberlain paragraph is the crucial context yurbud Nov 2014 #15
The pact was hushed up in Soviet times. Igel Nov 2014 #34
ironically, one of the things McCarthyites went after people for was opposing Hitler TOO SOON yurbud Nov 2014 #17
the only solution to this terrible admission is to make Russia a super-sized Somalia yurbud Nov 2014 #18
Will somebody put a plug in this asswipe? GeorgeGist Nov 2014 #20
Pardon my ignorance, but isn't Putin the very "Bolshevist" that Hitler hated? muntrv Nov 2014 #21
Shhhhhhh. You're not supposed to mention that. watrwefitinfor Nov 2014 #46
Recommend Read..... KoKo Nov 2014 #57
My recommend read: "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" watrwefitinfor Nov 2014 #83
There are some problems with your thread, but it is more accurate the the rest of this thread happyslug Nov 2014 #58
No, Stalin used the pact with Hitler to take Bessarabia and occupy the Baltic states muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #80
I was discussing the Soviet-Western allies talks happyslug Nov 2014 #93
There's a world of difference between "too good to pass up, because it allows land grabs" muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #94
Stalin did NOT start WWII, he did attack Poland, he did NOT attack Romania happyslug Nov 2014 #101
Katyn. muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #103
We are discussing the Russian German treaty happyslug Nov 2014 #105
"to extend the power of the USSR" - that's alright with you? muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #106
Thank you. I laud your efforts at correcting me and doing it so civilly. watrwefitinfor Nov 2014 #82
Don't feel that way. It is a very nasty minority. newthinking Nov 2014 #59
Yes, the era of Big Propaganda is upon us. watrwefitinfor Nov 2014 #84
Senator Prescott Bush (R-CT) also had dealings with Nazi financiers. blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #24
Wow! Just Wow! nt Javaman Nov 2014 #26
But but but Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #28
And don't forget her fascist cookies. GGJohn Nov 2014 #30
Well she is the wife of the founder of PNAC. Ever heard of it? newthinking Nov 2014 #64
Seducing the populace with rainbow cookies. Gratuitous image: freshwest Nov 2014 #31
In Russia, Putin would have those cookies arrested and tortured GGJohn Nov 2014 #33
No, he would have gangs of thugs beat down those cookies in brutal fashion, and then claim he MADem Nov 2014 #50
OMG. Now. I. Must. Have. Some. Cookies! freshwest Nov 2014 #77
some real fascists ----- Ukraine’s 'Right Sector' Leader Recognized as Elected Member of Parliament NordicLeft Nov 2014 #54
Using a Russian website to make your point Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #56
So,the BBC, The New Republic, Foreign Policy, Counterpunch, Salon, Intl. Business Times are Russian? NordicLeft Nov 2014 #62
This message was self-deleted by its author NordicLeft Nov 2014 #60
This is his publicity video - seriously... it really was made by and for him as head newthinking Nov 2014 #63
Fascism is on the march across the EU, and its certainly not springing from Putin NordicLeft Nov 2014 #65
Yes that poor Putin is misunderstood right? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #68
Tom Parfitt (the author of the Telegraph OP) is a well-known rightwing pro NATO/US/UK hack NordicLeft Nov 2014 #70
I was bested by you? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #72
People here have not yet figured out that the Republicans have been working on world domination for newthinking Nov 2014 #69
Okay Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #73
Be ignorant if you wish newthinking Nov 2014 #78
European fascists support Putin muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #81
you are saying Svoboda and Right Sector support Putin??? NordicLeft Nov 2014 #102
No, that's not what I was saying; I was replying to your incorrect claim that EU fascism and Putin muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #104
Keep shining bright lights on this. nilesobek Nov 2014 #75
I'm sure he likes the "secret protocol" best of all .... tabasco Nov 2014 #29
Well, I'm glad to see the US has run out of problems so we can refight the Cold War. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #35
yeah because everything is always the fault of the US, right uhnope Nov 2014 #36
That had zero to do with what I posted. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #37
then please elaborate on your subtle yet expansive point uhnope Nov 2014 #38
No, thanks. It was pretty obvious. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #39
thanks uhnope Nov 2014 #40
Does that mean you're not going to comment on DU about anything outside the US muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #42
The Soviet Union still exists? News to me. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #66
It will again if Vlad gets his way. 7962 Nov 2014 #67
Not really. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #71
That's a remarkable non sequitur muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #79
I beg your humble pardon. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #85
I agree the right wing is a problem, and that includes Putin muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #86
The American right-wing hates him and thinks he's a crypto-commie. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #87
You wanted this story to disappear muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #88
Oh, ok. Starry Messenger Nov 2014 #89
Wrong. FOX News loves him. Try all you want, you can't pretend that... uhnope Nov 2014 #99
My understanding was that Le Taz Hot Nov 2014 #47
Yes. bemildred Nov 2014 #61
Nothing wrong with the pact except it bit them in the ass. Hoppy Nov 2014 #48
Oh it is so easy to forget the lessons of history. gordianot Nov 2014 #76
If you think a government has the right/duty to pursue its national interest to the exclusion pampango Nov 2014 #91
Sure. It bought time (which was misspent), and... malthaussen Nov 2014 #92
That space should have been decisive, but was not.... happyslug Nov 2014 #95
Depends on whom you believe. malthaussen Nov 2014 #96
That's why we gave so many Nazis jobs and citizenship, and the fascism is present in US. bobthedrummer Nov 2014 #97
I hope the simple truth isn't a threadkiller... bobthedrummer Nov 2014 #98
If Western historians have really been trying to "hush up" the Munich Agreement, Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #107
not often you get to hear the Molotov Ribbentop pact spoken of so glowingly. nt arely staircase Nov 2014 #109
The big mistake on Hitler was made in 1936. roamer65 Nov 2014 #111
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Vladimir Putin says there...»Reply #93