Vladimir Putin says there was nothing wrong with Soviet Union's pact with Adolf Hitler's Nazi German

[happyslug]

93. I was discussing the Soviet-Western allies talks

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.