Question

Ошибки и просчеты советского руководства во внешнеполитической деятельности накануне второй мировой войны?

Answer 1

Знали дату нападения, но думали, что она неправильная. Не успели укрепить границу, то есть после раздела Польши, укрепления на границе с Польшей сломали, а на границе с Германией еще не возвели.

Answer 2

Errors and miscalculations of the Soviet leadership in foreign policy before World War II

The Soviet Union, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, made several errors and miscalculations in its foreign policy leading up to World War II. These mistakes had significant consequences for the Soviet Union and its role in the war. Let's explore some of these errors in detail:

1. Failure to form a collective security alliance: One of the major errors was the Soviet Union's failure to form a collective security alliance with Western powers against Nazi Germany. Despite negotiations with Britain and France, the Soviet Union was not included in the Munich Agreement of 1938, which allowed Germany to annex Czechoslovakia. This exclusion weakened the Soviet Union's position and left it vulnerable to German aggression.

2. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: Another significant error was the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in August 1939. This non-aggression pact included a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two countries. The pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention and effectively gave the Soviet Union a free hand in the Baltic states and Finland. This move by the Soviet Union surprised and alarmed the Western powers, who had hoped for Soviet support against Germany.

3. Underestimating the German threat: The Soviet leadership underestimated the threat posed by Nazi Germany. Stalin believed that Hitler would not risk a two-front war and that the Soviet Union would have more time to prepare for a potential conflict. This miscalculation led to a lack of preparedness and a failure to adequately fortify the Soviet border with Germany. When Germany launched its invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the Soviet forces were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses.

4. Purges of the Red Army: In the late 1930s, Stalin carried out a series of purges within the Red Army, removing many experienced military officers. This purge weakened the Soviet military and resulted in a lack of competent leadership during the early stages of the war. The purges also created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust within the military, further undermining its effectiveness.

5. Ignoring intelligence warnings: There were several intelligence warnings about Germany's intentions to invade the Soviet Union, but these warnings were largely ignored by the Soviet leadership. Soviet spies and intelligence sources provided information about Germany's military buildup and plans, but Stalin dismissed these reports as Western propaganda. This failure to heed the warnings contributed to the Soviet Union's unpreparedness for the German invasion.

6. Lack of cooperation with Western powers: The Soviet Union's strained relations with Western powers, particularly Britain and France, hindered effective cooperation against Nazi Germany. The Soviet Union's aggressive policies in Eastern Europe, including the annexation of the Baltic states, created distrust among the Western powers and made it difficult to form a united front against Germany.

In conclusion, the Soviet leadership made several errors and miscalculations in its foreign policy before World War II. These mistakes, including the failure to form a collective security alliance, the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, underestimating the German threat, purges of the Red Army, ignoring intelligence warnings, and a lack of cooperation with Western powers, had significant consequences for the Soviet Union and its role in the war