6 ms·

. . . when I learned about Stalin's offer of a unified Germany in the 1950's which was rejected . . . I was not familiar with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/w

. . . when I learned about Stalin's offer of a unified Germany in the 1950's which was rejected . . . I was not familiar with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin_Note https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin_Note EDIT: While there is no question that the West was also responsible for prosecuting the cold war, it is not at all clear that a reasonable agreement could have been reached in 1952. There is debate as to whether the offer of negotiation was sincere.

Synaesthesia 6y ago
Well we just don't know because it wasn't even considered, it's just not something you learn about in history usually.
- goodcanadian 6y ago
  Well, granted my knowledge derives from a single Wikipedia article, but it sounds to me like they considered it and concluded there was more to lose than there was to gain. Several diplomatic notes were sent back and forth and they couldn't even agree on basic conditions for starting negotiations. Yes, the West had ulterior motives, but it is naive to think that the USSR didn't also.
082349872349872 6y ago
The division of Germany also suggests an explanation of how Hitler wound up in his bunker that does not assume he was a madman. If he had had reason to believe that the west and the east would be in conflict soon after they met[1], he might have been hoping to sell Germany off to one or the other side.[2] The Cold War did indeed come about, but unfortunately for Hitler, the two sides were happy to ignore any "Not for individual sale"[3] labels. [1] read the Sportpalast speech to find out how they sold themselves as protecting all of europe against communism. [2] Liebes Volk! Unser viewpoint has evolved with political and economic developments in the area! [3] Sunrise, Paperclip, etc. What were the eastern equivalents?
- goodcanadian 6y ago
  I am not sure I buy it, but it has a slight air of plausibility. Certainly, many Germans knew what was coming. Many soldiers made great efforts to surrender to the West rather than to the Russians; German refugees flowed westward; and so on.

Synaesthesia 6y ago

Well we just don't know because it wasn't even considered, it's just not something you learn about in history usually.

goodcanadian 6y ago
Well, granted my knowledge derives from a single Wikipedia article, but it sounds to me like they considered it and concluded there was more to lose than there was to gain. Several diplomatic notes were sent back and forth and they couldn't even agree on basic conditions for starting negotiations. Yes, the West had ulterior motives, but it is naive to think that the USSR didn't also.

082349872349872 6y ago

The division of Germany also suggests an explanation of how Hitler wound up in his bunker that does not assume he was a madman. If he had had reason to believe that the west and the east would be in conflict soon after they met[1], he might have been hoping to sell Germany off to one or the other side.[2] The Cold War did indeed come about, but unfortunately for Hitler, the two sides were happy to ignore any "Not for individual sale"[3] labels. [1] read the Sportpalast speech to find out how they sold themselves as protecting all of europe against communism. [2] Liebes Volk! Unser viewpoint has evolved with political and economic developments in the area! [3] Sunrise, Paperclip, etc. What were the eastern equivalents?

goodcanadian 6y ago
I am not sure I buy it, but it has a slight air of plausibility. Certainly, many Germans knew what was coming. Many soldiers made great efforts to surrender to the West rather than to the Russians; German refugees flowed westward; and so on.