Research questions
How strong was the revanchist sentiment in Germany after World War I?
How great was the influence of the newly formed USSR state on postwar Germany?
Why did Germany decide to go to war not only with the Allies but also with the USSR?
Primary sources used
The article is devoted to the Soviet-German relations of the 1920s – the end of the 1930s. It considers the issues which are organically included in the general context of the European situation of the interwar period. The most important normative acts of those years – the Versailles Treaty and the Locarno and Rapallo agreements – are investigated (“Treaty of Versailles,“ 2022). The influence of the core document of Hitlerism – Mein Kampf – and its influence on the formation and development of foreign policy doctrines of Nazi Germany is analyzed (Hitler, 2021). The position of the Soviet Union with regard to the Weimar Republic before and after the National Socialists came to power in 1933 is assessed. The response to the strengthening of revanchist tendencies to solve problems generated by Versailles was the Soviet Union’s search for the best options for the creation of a Europe system of collective security. Particular attention is paid to the initial stage of Hitler’s aggressive course – the annexation of the Saar, the militarization of the Rhineland, and the Anschluss of Austria. The consensual policy of the leading European powers in these matters was reflected in the “Munich Deal” of September 1938, which opened the way for Hitler to realize his aggressive plans.
Summary
Strong revanchist sentiments were caused by a number of factors. The first was Germany’s exorbitant ambitions, which were initially fueled by military, economic and political successes. The second component of revanchism is the outcome of World War I. First of all, these are the provisions of the Versailles Treaty of 1919, which were particularly humiliating for Germany. The third is the unconditional support for German revanchism by financial injections from the United States and England in the interwar period. Financial support helped Germany not only to rebuild its national economy but also to start World War II. Now, almost a century later, it is obvious that the situation in which Germany found itself after World War I and such a humiliating peace could not but cause the growth of radical sentiments in society.
It is a well-known fact that the Germans, in reviving their fighting power, cooperated closely with the Red Army of Soviet Russia. Germany regarded Russia as a natural ally of Germany and did not regard it as an adversary. The Treaty of Versailles was a major impetus for bilateral cooperation between Russia and Germany. Since the end of World War I, Europeans have pursued an ambiguous policy toward Germany. On the one hand, it was in international isolation under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, and this inevitably pushed it on the path of rapprochement with Soviet Russia, which was also a rogue state. On the other hand, the West was wary of a rapprochement between Germany and Soviet Russia and sought to push the two states together. The exchange of military equipment, goods, and economic and political ties made cooperation multifaceted, as well as allowed for the strengthening of the German Communist Party, indicating the high influence of the USSR.
The Dawes Plan and the cooperation of the USSR made possible the strengthening of Germany and a new, bloodier war involving a large number of countries. Thus began Germany’s preparations to take revenge in World War II. On the one hand, Soviet Russia and Germany were prompted to cooperate by the humiliating and onerous Versailles agreements; on the other hand, huge financial contributions from Western countries helped to strengthen German revanchism. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 was also possible for these reasons. In the end, this led to a clash of revanchist Germany not only with the Soviet Union but also with Europe. For the U.S., this state of affairs was beneficial because they saw Europe as a natural rival and wanted to weaken Hitler at her hands. The Treaty of Versailles and Western policy towards Germany, as well as internal changes in Russia, were the catalyst for the tragic events of 1939-1945.
References
“Treaty of Versailles.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Web.
Hitler, Adolf. Mein Kampf. Good Press, 2021.