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For those unfamiliar with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E
by aix1 5y ago
For those unfamiliar with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pac... (esp. the Secret Protocol and the subsequent invasion of Poland).
- vba616 5y agoSomething I ran across while browsing related pages that I hadn't thought about, is the assertion that Germany got a huge amount of imported resources from the Soviets before they invaded that enabled them to engage in the devastating invasion, as well as carrying on the war with others.
- the_af 5y agoThe assertion is dubious. I mean, yes, Germany imported resources from the Soviet Union. No surprise there. Later, they also massively used Soviet slaves in order to fuel their war machine and factories. Without them, it would have been harder or impossible for Nazi Germany to continue the war. This is partly why they switched from "kill all Soviets on sight" to "extermination through labor".
- vba616 5y agoWhich is why the peaceful trading before the invasion miiiiiight have been a miscalculation by Stalin that led to millions of deaths. Germany invaded because they needed resources that they couldn't get elsewhere. Letting them bootstrap that into the invasion, among all of the mistakes that were made in WWII, seems like it might have been one of the top ones.
- the_af 5y agoEveryone made mistakes immediately before WW2. Some in the West even liked Hitler. Stalin sought support from the West and was denied; partially the reason for the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. The British also made mistakes, and let's not forget the French. None of this detracts from the fact the Soviet Union was ome of the biggest victims in WW2 and that they were traumatized by this.