Guiding questions

Why did Stalin make an alliance with Hitler in 1939?

Why was the Soviet Union able to survive and push back the Nazi invasion?

What economic developments took place after 1945?

What political developments took place after 1945?

Why did a 'cold war' develop with the West after 1945?

Read the terms of the Non-Aggression Pact of 1939 below. It can also be found here

1. What advantages did Stalin gain from signing this Pact?

2. Why are the secret clauses particularly significant?

3. How do the terms of this pact further help to explain why Stalin signed an agreement with the Germans rather than with the West?

The Government of the German Reich and The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, directed by the wish to strengthen the cause of peace between Germany and the USSR . . . have reached the following agreement:

Article 1: The two contracting parties undertake to refrain from any act of violence, and aggressive action, or any attack against one another, whether individually or jointly with other powers.

Article 2: In case the contracting parties should become the object of warlike acts on the part of a third party, the other contracting party will no longer support that third power in any form.

Article 3: Neither of the two contracting parties will participate in any grouping of powers which is indirectly or directly aimed against the other party.

Article 4: Should disputes or conflicts arise between the contracting parties regarding questions of any kind whatsoever, the two parties would clear away these disputes or conflicts solely by means of friendly exchanges of views or if necessary by arbitrary commissions.

Secret Additional Protocol: On the occasion of the signature of the Non-Aggression Treaty between the German Reich and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the undersigned... parties discussed in strictly confidential conversations the question of the delimitation of their respective spheres of interest in Eastern Europe. These conversations led to the following result:

1. In the event of a territorial and political transformation in the territories belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern frontier of Lithuania shall represent the frontier of the spheres of interest both of Germany and the USSR. . . .

2. In the event of a territorial and political transformation of the territories belonging to the Polish State, the spheres of interest of both Germany and the USSR shall be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narev, Vistula, and San.

3. This Protocol will be treated by both parties as strictly secret.

Read the following radio broadcast from Stalin which was made on 3 July 1941 and discuss the following questions in pairs:

1. What can you learn from this source about the nature of the war in the Soviet Union?
2. What methods does Stalin use to motivate the Soviet population? Comment on the language that is used.
3. With reference to origin, purpose and content what are the value and limitations of this source for a historian studying the impact of the war on the Soviet Union.

In consequence of this war which has been forced upon us, our country has come to death grips with its bitterest and most cunning enemy - German fascism. Our troops are fighting heroically against an enemy armed to the teeth with tanks and aircraft. Side by side with the Red Army, the entire Soviet people is rising in  defense of our native land.

The enemy is cruel and implacable. He is out to seize our lands watered by the sweat of our brows, to seize our grain and oil secured by the labour of our hands. He is out to restore the rule of the landlords, to restore tsarism, to destroy our national cultures and our national existence and to turn us into slaves of German princes and barons. Thus the issue is one of life and death for the Soviet State, of life and death for the peoples of the USSR.

In case of a forced retreat of Red Army units, all rolling stock must be evacuated, the enemy must not be left a single engine, a single railway carriage, not a single pound of grain or gallon of fuel. The collective farmers must drive off all their cattle and turn over their grain to the safe keeping of the state authorities for transportation to the rear. All valuable property including non-ferrous metals, grain and fuel that cannot be withdrawn must be destroyed without fail. In areas occupied by the enemy, guerilla units mounted and on foot must be formed. Sabotage groups must be organised to combat enemy units, to blow up bridges and roads, damage telephone and telegraph lines, set fire to forests, stores and transports. In occupied regions conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy and all his accomplices. They must be hounded and annihilated at every step, and all their measures frustrated.

Read the extract below. What were the characteristics of life for Soviet people after the war?

In 1946, Stalin announced the first of three five year plans. Yet again the focus was on heavy industry and transport. Many more women now had to work in the factories due to the huge loss of soldiers in the war and there was no let up on the hours and sacrifices demanded of workers; conditions remained as they had during the war - 12 hours a day in a six day week and rationing continued at starvation levels. As in the 1930s workers were encouraged with a range of methods that included wage differentials and encouraging workers by awarding 'Stakhanovites'. A nationwide drought in 1946 made conditions even harsher. In these conditions, the results of the 4th Five year Plan are quite remarkable. However the living and working conditions of workers remained as bad as ever; by 1950 the USSR had substantially improved its industry but consumer goods remained in short supply. In agriculture, the loss of collective farms meant that the peasants faced particular hardships; with strict controls over all aspects of their lives, they were reduced to almost serf status again. Targets for grain production which had to be handed over were so high that peasants often had to buy their flour and foodstuffs in towns. Wages remained at less than 20% of the level of wages of industrial workers and taxes increased making it difficult for families to survive. All private plots were taken away.