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I'm not sure how much about purges was known in the West at the time (USSR was pretty well cut-off from the rest of the world), but by 1940, the West already kn

by badpun 4y ago

I'm not sure how much about purges was known in the West at the time (USSR was pretty well cut-off from the rest of the world), but by 1940, the West already knew about the Katyń Massacre. I think it was clear for leadership there that they're allying with one monster to defeat another one, and they could very well do the same thing in reverse order if circumstances called for that. It was just that, at the time, it was Hitler who was bombing London and not Stalin, so he had to go first.

watwut 4y ago
To be clear, I do not blame them. It was right choice. I am reacting to what people wrote on various discussion forums including HN now. I remember reading in history book about Germany that news about purges affected situation in there - people seen communists and bigger threat and nazi as protection against communists more. So, at least something was known.