Poland invaded the former Russian Empire during the russian civil war. It annexed large areas.
The USSR tried to revive the Entente for years, but was rebuffed by France, GB and the US. Partially because local fascists, partially because these nations had no real interest in a new entente, partially because Poland lobbied against the USSR.
Then the Munich conference happened. Previously the USSR was the only nation willing to military support Czechslovakia, but was denied military access by other countries to get there. Czechslovakia ceased to exist and was carved up by its neighbours.
This made it clear to the USSR that their dream of a new Entente had ended and the western capitalist nations wanted to direct germany eastwards against them. So they did two things:
Sign a non-agression-treaty with germany. As the last european state to do so. This lead Germany to move west first.
Offer Poland a defensive treaty. Poland denied, because of anti-soviet tendency and pro-german one.
So when Germany invaded Poland, the USSR did fuck all for two weeks. Then, after the polish government had left for exile, they moved to the territories Poland had annexed previously and occupied them. The Polish governments last order before exile were not to resist the Red Army.
Is the Hakenkreuz thing true? I was under the impression that the swastika was commonly used in Europe at the time as a symbol of “ancient wisdom” and of Europe’s “Aryan” past – especially by theosophists and the like. The Nazis simply adopted it because of its cultural resonance.
So… What did happen in Poland then?
Was there an agreement to carve it up between USSR and Nazi Germany, or not?
Poland invaded the former Russian Empire during the russian civil war. It annexed large areas.
The USSR tried to revive the Entente for years, but was rebuffed by France, GB and the US. Partially because local fascists, partially because these nations had no real interest in a new entente, partially because Poland lobbied against the USSR.
Then the Munich conference happened. Previously the USSR was the only nation willing to military support Czechslovakia, but was denied military access by other countries to get there. Czechslovakia ceased to exist and was carved up by its neighbours.
This made it clear to the USSR that their dream of a new Entente had ended and the western capitalist nations wanted to direct germany eastwards against them. So they did two things:
So when Germany invaded Poland, the USSR did fuck all for two weeks. Then, after the polish government had left for exile, they moved to the territories Poland had annexed previously and occupied them. The Polish governments last order before exile were not to resist the Red Army.
why did the ussr invade finland?
Finland was nazi, it’s where the nazis got their hakenkreuz from
Is the Hakenkreuz thing true? I was under the impression that the swastika was commonly used in Europe at the time as a symbol of “ancient wisdom” and of Europe’s “Aryan” past – especially by theosophists and the like. The Nazis simply adopted it because of its cultural resonance.