1) What had the Soviet Union believed since the late 1920s? That Germany was preparing for war.
2) What happened in 1933? Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan signed a treaty acknowledging communism as the common enemy
3) What did this lead to? Heavier focus on the military- Recruited spies diverted economics towards rearmament
4) What undermined these measures? Stalins paranoia & purges
5) What happened to the military? (3) Discipline was restored Officers and Commanders reintroduced. Army was purged to ensure loyalty
6) What advantage did Russia have over the rest of Europe? Huge network of spies across Europe
7) Why did Stalin not make the most of this? He refused to trust his intelligence service
8) Why was the Third Five-Year Plan never completed? Stalins purges prevented it- caused chaos
9) How much was spent on rearmament in the Third Five-Year Plan? 4200 million Roubles!
10) How many new factories were dedicated to the production of explosives? Twenty-four
11) How did Russias spending compare with that of Germany? Well- size of their economy meant they could spend more, and still take up less of its national income.
12) When was the Nazi- Soviet Pact signed? 24 th August 1939
13) What did the public section of the Pact say? (3) That Russia and Germany would respect each others territories, to settle any disagreements through negotiation, and to increase trade as a sign of friendship.
14) What did the secret section of the Pact say? That they would divide Eastern Europe between them, into two spheres of interest
15) Who was responsible for this pact with Hitler? Stalin alone
16) Why did Stalin cut a deal with Hitler? (6) No viable alternatives An attempt to buy time before a war with Germany Following Lenins example Stalin admired Hitler Stalin was keen to recapture European territory that had belonged to the Tsar Stalin didnt think Britain and France were interested in an equal partnership
17) When did Stalin think Germany would break the Pact? May 1942