Brice writes:
>Nazi Germany and the USSR had an agreement on the joint invasion of Poland
which included a NAP.  They both agreed to jointly invade the same country
and conquer it, but you are trying to say they were not 'on the same side'.
This is ridiculous.  Certianly is was not an alliance based upon good will
to each other, but a marriage of convenience.
--------------------

Much is being made of the German-Soviet pact.  The USSR and Germany signed a
non-aggression pact as described by Mr Cooper.  Little known at the time and
within the agreement was the mutual carve-up of Poland if one or other
signatory invaded Poland.  The fact that Stalin signed this agreement is
directly because of the realities he faced: 1) the Czechs and Austrians had
already been steam-rollered by Hitler either by his forces or by
negotiation; 2) Britain and France were desperate for Stalin to sign up with
them against Hitler, but Stalin did not trust these old imperial nations and
was unsure whether they would, at some point in the future, sign a deal with
Hitler and then the Soviets would be left on a limb.  Stalin recognised his
isolation and potential military weakness in face of Hitler forces so his
options were fairly limited - pick a side, pick no side and trust to luck
that Hitler would not turn his attention to him, or cut a deal for some
temporary insurance. Stalin, Churchill and all the other countries not yet
engaged with Hitler could see the writing on the wall - it was a matter of
working some way out of full-scale war.

The ink was hardly dry on the agreement (Aug 23rd) before Hitler invaded
Poland on Sept 1st.  Russia did not invade until Sept 17th - so this was no
co-ordinated invasion, rather Hitler played Stalin and the clause in the
agreement forced Stalins hand to action.  With the move into Poland, Stalin
may have been looking at keeping a buffer of territory between Russia proper
and the German forces.

Cheers

Richard


















Really?  All those Indian and British troops pushing the Japs out of Burma?
America would have had it a lot harder on the Pacific islands if Japan
hadn't had so many troops tied up there.

--------------------

Show me some numbers, how many Indian troops were in the conflict versus how
many USA troops?

--------------------

So was Turkey, Spain and Switzerland.  So what?

--------------------

I believe this is relevant because an earlier person tried to claim Sweden
was on the allied side.  The difference was Switzerland and Turkey really
were neutral, whereas Sweden was a neutral Axis collaborater.

--------------------

Bingo!  You actually got something right.  Finland declared war on Germany
in March 1945.

--------------------

Ah yes, years of working with the Germans, and 3 months of opposing them
when it was obvious it wasn't going to make any difference.

--------------------

Yes, America was making a minor contribution to the war efforts of
"everyone" through Lend-Lease.

--------------------

Ok, lets quibble over the meaning of the word 'minor'.  I would use the word
'significant'.

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