Stalin's speech to the Politburo
Stalin's speech to the Politburo on 19 August 1939
(So far it has not been possible to provide an authorized English translation of the speech. In the mean time we will have to put up with the following somewhat faulty version that I have compiled from versions on other websites.)
This seems to be the essential content of the speech:
"The question of war and peace has entered a critical phase for us. If we conclude a mutual assistance pact with France and Great Britain, Germany will back off from Poland and seek a modus vivendi with the Western Powers. War would be avoided, but further events could prove dangerous for the USSR."
"If we accept Germany's proposal and conclude a non-aggression pact with her, she will of course invade Poland, and the intervention of France and England is then unavoidable. Western Europe would be subjected to serious upheavals and disorder. In this case we will have a great opportunity to stay out of the conflict, and we could plan the opportune time for us to enter the war."
"The experience of the last 20 years has shown, that in peacetime the Communist movement is never strong enough for the Bolshevik Party to seize power. The dictatorship of such a Party will only become possible as the result of a major war."
"Our choice is clear. We must accept the German proposal and politely send the Anglo-French mission home. Our immediate advantage will be to take Poland all the way to the gates of Warsaw, as well as Ukrainian Galicia."
"Germany grants us full freedom of action in the Baltic States and recognizes our claim on Bessarabia. She is prepared to acknowledge our interests in Romania Bulgaria and Hungary. Yugoslavia remains an open question. [...] At the same time, we must look ahead to the situation that will follow and to a possible conquest of Germany. In such a situation, we must desist Sovietization of Germany and establishing a Communist Government there. We should not forget that Sovietization would only bring about great danger, if it should shorten the war. England and France are still strong enough to seize Berlin and to destroy a Soviet Germany. We would be unable to assist our Bolshevik German comrades."
"In this way we will cause Germany to be able to wage war in the future, with the goal that England and France should not be able to threaten a Sovietized Germany. Maintaining neutrality and waiting for the right time, the USSR will presently supply Germany with raw materials and finished goods. However, we must not send so much as to weaken our economy or the power of our army. At the same time we must carry on active Communist propaganda in the Anglo-French block, and especially in France. We must be ready for the time when, in that country, the Party should quit the legal means of warfare and turn underground. We know that their work will demand great sacrifices, but we trust our French comrades. The first task will be to demoralize the army and the police. If this preparatory work is fulfilled properly, the danger to a Soviet Germany will recede. It will also contribute to the Sovietization of France."
"For the realization of these plans it is essential that the war continue for as long as possible, and all forces in Western Europe and the Balkans, with which we are actively involved, should be directed toward this goal."
"Now let us consider the second possibility, a victory by Germany. Some think that this would confront us with a serious danger. There is some truth in this, but it would be a mistake to regard the danger as so close or so great as has been proposed. If Germany should prove to be victorious, she will leave the war too weakened to start a war with the USSR within ten years at least. She will have to supervise the occupation of France and England and to restore herself. [...] Obviously, this Germany will be too busy elsewhere to turn against us. In a conquered France, the French Communist Party will be very strong. The Communist revolution will break out, and we will be able to exploit the situation and to come to the aid of France and make her our ally. In addition, all the nations that fall under the "protection" of a victorious Germany will become our allies. This presents for us a broad field of action for the initiation of world revolution."
"Comrades! It is in the interest of the USSR, the workers' homeland that a war breaks out between the Reich and the capitalist Anglo-French block. Everything should be done so that it drags out as long as possible with the goal of weakening both sides. For this reason, it is imperative that we agree to conclude the pact proposed by Germany, and then work in such a way that this war, which any day is going to be declared, will continue during the greatest amount of time. We need to strengthen propaganda work in the fighting countries, in order to be prepared when the war ends." [...]
(So far it has not been possible to provide an authorized English translation of the speech. In the mean time we will have to put up with the following somewhat faulty version that I have compiled from versions on other websites.)
This seems to be the essential content of the speech:
"The question of war and peace has entered a critical phase for us. If we conclude a mutual assistance pact with France and Great Britain, Germany will back off from Poland and seek a modus vivendi with the Western Powers. War would be avoided, but further events could prove dangerous for the USSR."
"If we accept Germany's proposal and conclude a non-aggression pact with her, she will of course invade Poland, and the intervention of France and England is then unavoidable. Western Europe would be subjected to serious upheavals and disorder. In this case we will have a great opportunity to stay out of the conflict, and we could plan the opportune time for us to enter the war."
"The experience of the last 20 years has shown, that in peacetime the Communist movement is never strong enough for the Bolshevik Party to seize power. The dictatorship of such a Party will only become possible as the result of a major war."
"Our choice is clear. We must accept the German proposal and politely send the Anglo-French mission home. Our immediate advantage will be to take Poland all the way to the gates of Warsaw, as well as Ukrainian Galicia."
"Germany grants us full freedom of action in the Baltic States and recognizes our claim on Bessarabia. She is prepared to acknowledge our interests in Romania Bulgaria and Hungary. Yugoslavia remains an open question. [...] At the same time, we must look ahead to the situation that will follow and to a possible conquest of Germany. In such a situation, we must desist Sovietization of Germany and establishing a Communist Government there. We should not forget that Sovietization would only bring about great danger, if it should shorten the war. England and France are still strong enough to seize Berlin and to destroy a Soviet Germany. We would be unable to assist our Bolshevik German comrades."
"In this way we will cause Germany to be able to wage war in the future, with the goal that England and France should not be able to threaten a Sovietized Germany. Maintaining neutrality and waiting for the right time, the USSR will presently supply Germany with raw materials and finished goods. However, we must not send so much as to weaken our economy or the power of our army. At the same time we must carry on active Communist propaganda in the Anglo-French block, and especially in France. We must be ready for the time when, in that country, the Party should quit the legal means of warfare and turn underground. We know that their work will demand great sacrifices, but we trust our French comrades. The first task will be to demoralize the army and the police. If this preparatory work is fulfilled properly, the danger to a Soviet Germany will recede. It will also contribute to the Sovietization of France."
"For the realization of these plans it is essential that the war continue for as long as possible, and all forces in Western Europe and the Balkans, with which we are actively involved, should be directed toward this goal."
"Now let us consider the second possibility, a victory by Germany. Some think that this would confront us with a serious danger. There is some truth in this, but it would be a mistake to regard the danger as so close or so great as has been proposed. If Germany should prove to be victorious, she will leave the war too weakened to start a war with the USSR within ten years at least. She will have to supervise the occupation of France and England and to restore herself. [...] Obviously, this Germany will be too busy elsewhere to turn against us. In a conquered France, the French Communist Party will be very strong. The Communist revolution will break out, and we will be able to exploit the situation and to come to the aid of France and make her our ally. In addition, all the nations that fall under the "protection" of a victorious Germany will become our allies. This presents for us a broad field of action for the initiation of world revolution."
"Comrades! It is in the interest of the USSR, the workers' homeland that a war breaks out between the Reich and the capitalist Anglo-French block. Everything should be done so that it drags out as long as possible with the goal of weakening both sides. For this reason, it is imperative that we agree to conclude the pact proposed by Germany, and then work in such a way that this war, which any day is going to be declared, will continue during the greatest amount of time. We need to strengthen propaganda work in the fighting countries, in order to be prepared when the war ends." [...]
posted by Press Reports at
1:27 PM
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