Question

ИСТОРИЯ 9 КЛАСС.1) Каковы были основные направления советской внешней политики на Дальнем Востоке в 30-е годы?2) Как и почему изменился внешнеполитический курс СССР после Мюнхеновского соглашения?

Answer 1

Напряженной была ситуация и на Дальнем Востоке. В 1928 г. произошел конфликт СССР с Китаем на Китайской восточной железной дороге (КВЖД), который был быстро урегулирован. Но здесь на Востоке Советскому Союзу противостояла Япония. В августе 1938 г. произошло крупное столкновение с японскими войсками в районе озера Хасан у Владивостока, а летом 1939 г. на реке Халхин-Гол. Японские войска были разгромлены.

Answer 2

Main Directions of Soviet Foreign Policy in the Far East in the 1930s

In the 1930s, the Soviet Union pursued several main directions in its foreign policy on the Far East. These directions were influenced by various factors, including geopolitical considerations, ideological motivations, and the desire to protect Soviet interests in the region.

One of the main directions of Soviet foreign policy in the Far East was to establish and maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries. The Soviet Union sought to strengthen its ties with countries such as China and Mongolia, as well as other socialist states in the region. This was driven by the Soviet Union's desire to create a buffer zone of friendly states to protect its eastern borders and ensure its security [[1]].

Another important direction of Soviet foreign policy in the Far East was to counter the influence of imperialist powers, particularly Japan. The Soviet Union viewed Japan as a potential threat to its interests in the region and sought to contain its expansionist ambitions. To achieve this, the Soviet Union supported anti-Japanese movements in China and provided military aid to the Chinese government in its struggle against Japanese aggression [[2]].

Additionally, the Soviet Union aimed to promote the spread of communism in the Far East. The Communist International, also known as the Comintern, played a significant role in this regard. The Comintern provided support and guidance to communist parties in the region, with the goal of establishing socialist regimes in various countries. The Soviet Union saw the spread of communism as a means to weaken imperialist powers and advance its own interests [[3]].

Changes in Soviet Foreign Policy after the Munich Agreement

The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938, marked a significant turning point in Soviet foreign policy. The agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population, without any resistance from the Western powers. This event had a profound impact on the Soviet Union's perception of the Western democracies and its approach to international relations.

The Munich Agreement demonstrated to the Soviet leadership that the Western powers were not willing to confront Nazi Germany and were instead pursuing a policy of appeasement. This realization led to a reassessment of Soviet foreign policy objectives and a shift in the Soviet Union's approach to international relations.

As a result, the Soviet Union began to pursue a policy of collective security and sought to form alliances with other countries that shared its concerns about Nazi Germany. In August 1939, the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two countries. This agreement allowed the Soviet Union to buy time to prepare for a potential conflict with Germany and secure its western borders [[4]].

The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact marked a significant departure from the Soviet Union's previous foreign policy, as it involved making a temporary alliance with a country that the Soviet Union had previously viewed as a major threat. However, it was a pragmatic decision aimed at protecting Soviet interests and avoiding a two-front war.

In summary, the main directions of Soviet foreign policy in the Far East in the 1930s included establishing friendly relations with neighboring countries, countering the influence of imperialist powers like Japan, and promoting the spread of communism. After the Munich Agreement, the Soviet Union shifted its foreign policy course and pursued a policy of collective security, which ultimately led to the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany.