STALIN
AND THE CAUSES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
For
Alliance North America; Originally in North Star Compass
There
are many bourgeois misconceptions
about the Second World War; but two are particularly important to combat.
One
is that Stalin was "unaware of the likelihood of attack" and was "taken
by surprise".
The
second is that the Molotov-Ribbentrop
Pact was an act of treason by Stalin, against the international working
class.
The
two misconceptions are linked essential lies perpetuated by bourgeois historians
to falsify history.
Firstly,
Stalin was well aware that the biggest danger to world peace was German
and Japanese imperialism. In fact Stalin is on record as saying to Antony
Eden, in Moscow, that the situation was more dangerous than 1913:
"Eden..
saw the international situation as worrying but not hopeless. Stalin however
pointed out that he saw the situation more serious than in 1913. When Eden
asked why this was so, Stalin replied that in 1913 there had only been
one seat of war-Germany, whereas now there were two-Germany and Japan".
Cited
from Archives:Dokumenty vnesnei politiki SSSR Vol XVIII,p.247,By: Fyodor
Volkov in "Secrets from Whitehall and Downing Street"; Moscow; 1980; p.231.
In
fact even earlier, Stalin had pointed out the danger emanating from the
West:
"We
are 50 or a 100 years behind the advanced countries. We must make good
this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or we shall go under".
J.V.Stalin:'The
Tasks of the Business Executive,' in 'Works', Volume 13; Moscow; 1955;
p.41.
It
was this understanding that informed the Stalin led attack on the Bukharinite
Right Deviation :
"Do
you think we achieve the final victory of socialism in our country so long
as this contradiction exists? What has to be done to end this contradiction?
To end it we must overtake and outstrip the advanced technology of the
developed capitalist countries.. outstrip and overtake these countries
technically and economically. Either we do this, or we shall be forced
to the wall."
J.V.Stalin:
'Industrialisation and the Right Deviation (1928)', 'Works', Vol 11, 1954.p.259.
And
why did Stalin see it this way? Because of the inevitability of the capitalist
crisis of overproduction leading on to the re-division of the war:
"The
continuing world crisis.. It is not surprising that this is the most severe
of all the crises that have taken place.. whereas in the capitalist countries
feverish preparations are in progress for a new war for a new re-division
of the world and spheres of influence." J.V.Stalin "Report to the 17th
Party Congress on the work of the Central Committee of the CPSU(B); Jan
26th, 1934.
Therefore
Stalin with Molotov and Zhadanov, tried to forge principled alliances.
Hitler's ambitions on Russia were known:
"We
National Socialists consciously draw a line beneath the foreign policy
tendency of our pre-war period.. We stop the endless German movement to
the South and West, and turn our gaze towards the land in the East.. If
we speak of soil in Europe today, we can primarily have in mind only Russia".
A.Hitler,
'Mein Kampf'; London; 1984; p.598, 604.
But
the natural allies against German revanchist fascism were Britain, France
and the USA.
These
countries were also consumed with desire to destroy the USSR. Although
the ruling classes of these countries were divided on the issue, the majority
faction (Neville Chamberlain in the UK and Edouard Dualardier in France)
were of the opinion to "appease" Hitler to drive him towards Russia first.
To this end , they allowed a shameless policy of rapid re-armament of Germany
and turning a blind eye to Hitler. As Stalin said to the 18th Congress
of the CPSU in March 1939:
"England
France and the USA.. draw back and retreat, making concession after concession
to the aggressors.. without the leat attempt at resistance, and even with
a certain amount of connivance.. How is it..?..The policy of non-intervention
reveals an eagerness, a desire..not to hinder Germany say.. from embroiling
herself in a war with the Soviet Union.. One might think that the districts
of Czechoslovakia were yielded to Germany as the price of an undertaking
to launch war on the Soviet Union."
J.V.Stalin:
'Works'; Vol 14; London; 1978; p.363-367.
This
tactic of British and French imperialism was further exposed by the constant
spurning of all the repeated USSR calls for a collective security pact.
Lloyd George (Liberal
party) made a speech in the UK Parliament upbraiding Chamberlain for making
a unilateral guarantee to Poland without any talks with the USSR. Under
pressure, the Government agreed to send a delegation to Moscow. However
it was sent by very slow sea and rail (not air); and with secret instructions
to :
"Go
very slowly with the conversations".
Documents
British Foreign Policy,' 3rd Series, Volume 6,; London; 1953; Appendix
5; p.763.
The
real intent was clear - the British and French had no intention to secure
a collective security agreement.
Moreover
Chamberlain
was secretly negotiating for a military alliance with Germany so threatening
the USSR with a Four power enemy.
Sir
Neville Henderson British Ambassador in
Berlin reported to Lord Halifax
(29th August 1939) a conversation with Hitler and Ribbentrtop:
"Herr
von Ribbentrop asked me whether I could guarantee that the PM could carry
the country with him in policy of friendship with Germany.. Her Hitler
asked whether England would be willing to accept an alliance with Germany.
I said speaking personally, I did not exclude such a possibility."
Documents
Concerning German-Polish Relations and the Outbreak of Hostilities between
Great Britain and Germany on Sep 3rd, 1939'(Cmd.6106); London; 1939; p.130.
It
was this that prompted the brilliant coup of the MOLOTOV RIBBENTROP PACT.
This
spiked the guns of the British and French collusionists. But it also delayed
the inevitable onset of war by enough time to allow Stalin and the party
to move the factories East of the Urals and to gear up for the war.
Even
virulent anti-Stalin writers such as the historian E.H.Carr
admit that :
"The
Chamberlain Government.. as a defender of capitalism.. refused to enter
into an alliance with the USSR against Germany.. In the Pact of August
23rd, 1939, they (The USSR) secured a) a breathing space of immunity from
attack; (b)German assistance in mitigating Japanese pressure in the Far
East; (c) German agreement to the establishment of an advanced defensive
bastion beyond the existing Soviet frontiers in Eastern Europe; it was
significant that the bastion was and could only be , a line of defence
against potential German attack, the eventual prosect of which was never
far absent from Soviet reckonings. But what most of all was achieved by
the pact was the assurance that of the USSR had eventually to fight Hitler,
the Western powers would already be involved."
Carr:'From
Munich to Moscow: II';'Soviet Studies',1,NO.21949; p.103.
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