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The quote is mine, but Stalin had the same opinion: the past taught him that Poland only caused troubles for Russia and that it was better off without Poland , and the future (August 1944, June 1956, 1970, 1981 ) proves that my quote is correct .What I quoted were Stalin's exact words from the Yalta conference. Yes, not believable and again history speaks for itself. My point is the "poison chalice" quote is yours, not Stalin's?
Stalin knew very well that Germany would attack Poland .And I suppose Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were over run by the Soviet Union by accident?
"Oops, didn't see you guys there, sorry!"
Finland seemed to be having issues with the Soviets, too.
So one asks, at what point these four nations being occupied (one held out, obviously) would create a barrier against Germany?
The premise that Stalin had no idea of Germany invading Poland (or was surprised) is baseless.
So is the excuse the the Soviet Union only wanted Poland as a "buffer" against German aspirations.
Also claiming that the USSR was neutral (while it was fighting the Japanese and Finns) makes no sense.
Switzerland and Sweden were Neutral - meaning they weren't actively invading/fighting someone.
Stalin knew very well that Germany would attack Poland .
Stalin had to wait to see what the effect of the UK and French ultimatum and declaration of war wasThat the Soviets waited 2 1/2 weeks to launch their invasion was, perhaps, Stalin waiting to see what the reaction in the West would be. When he saw that they would do little to interfere, he struck, gobbling up the Baltic states and the agreed upon partition of Poland.
Similarly, when advancing into Poland in 1944, he waited while the Germans crushed the Warsaw Uprising, eliminating many Polish freedom fighters. Fewer for the Soviets to have to deal with after the occupation.
Interesting.The Baltics were occupied because in the past they belonged to Russia .
No Pole would be surprised.
Otherwise, Italy could declare itself the reincarnation of the Roman Empire and claim all of Europe and large portions of the Mediterranean as their rightful property...
The content of the Pact was not the Partition of Eastern Europe, but to make the German attack on Poland not possible, but inevitable . And every one in Europe knew it .The Belgian mobilization started not on September 1, but on August 25 .Two days after the Pact was signed .
As A.J.P. Taylor said on P 318 of The Origins of the Second World War:'' The pact was neither an alliance nor an agreement for the partition of Poland .''
The partition of Poland was the result of the successful German attack and of the inability of France to save Poland .
Stalin, a SOB, did the right thing to defend the interests of the USSR : if he did nothing,, Hitler would occupy the whole of Poland, including 8 million Ukrainians and Russians living in the Eastern Part of Poland.
This is the starting point of any nationalist politician. Always hark back to the time when some prince or potentate had temporarily brought a large area under their political sway.Interesting.
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire in the 1700's. It never "belonged" to Russia.
Latvia was originally ruled by the Germans. The Poles.and Lithuanians took it from the Germans. Then the Swedes assumed control in the 1600's after their war with Poland. Imperial Russia took over the Latvia in the 1700's.
Estonia was ruled by Germans, Poles, Swedes and even Denmark before becoming a part of thw Russian Empire.
So we simply cannot Cherry Pick which nation these Baltic states "belong" to.
Each one was declared a sovereign nation in 1918 and as such, are no longer available for reclamation by some distant claim. Otherwise, Italy could declare itself the reincarnation of the Roman Empire and claim all of Europe and large portions of the Mediterranean as their rightful property...
OK, your comment so noted - all good, but earlier the comment was made about the Poles having "a choice." Many years ago I spent time in a part of upstate NY where there was a large Polish population and I actually met transplants who lived through the German and Soviet invasions/occupations. I think if you had made that statement to some of them you probably would have found great distress applied to your facial area or would have had a striking blow from a sizable shoe to your lower extremities. The impression I got from these people were BOTH Soviets and Nazis were hated and they had NO choice. In the aftermath of WW2 they realized that they were just a part of the pie and did their best to endure until the time was right or if they had the opportunity to leave, which many of them did. (Ever hear of the Mirabel shuffle?) The impression I got from these survivors was they didn't want to make a choice, they just wanted to be left alone.The quote is mine, but Stalin had the same opinion: the past taught him that Poland only caused troubles for Russia and that it was better off without Poland , and the future (August 1944, June 1956, 1970, 1981 ) proves that my quote is correct .
Besides, if Stalin did not think that Poland was a poisoned chalice, why did he leave Central Poland with Warsaw to Hitler ?
Before, during and after the war the Cheka killed tens of thousands of anti communist/anti-Russian Poles ( there were a lot of Katyns ) and,what was the result ? The result was that the anti Soviet/Russian hostility in Poland was increasing .
Or very bad tempers!Are you accusing Poles of having abnormally large feet?