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Question: Why did Soviet Union switch sides during WW2!?
From what I understand, Russian had certain agreement with the Germans at the start of WW2!. Then some point later, German and the rest of the Axis started invading Soviet Union, and USSR and UK signed some defensive agreements!.

What I'm missing here is what happened in between, when USSR switch sides and went to war against the Germans

can anyone help me out!? Thak youWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Russia didn't switch sides - Germany did!.

There was an agreement (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) to divide up Poland, which happened in 1939!. (Incidentally; I've never heard anyone ask why Britain and France declared war on Germany for invading Poland; but did not declare war on Russia for invading Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland)!.

Both sides viewed the M-R Pact cynically!. Both expected to go to war against the other eventually, but used the pact to buy time!. To look at Russia specifically, their armed forces were in a mess after the purges, and expected Germany to become bogged down in the west after the fashion of 1914-1918!. When this didn't happen, Stalin still thought he had until at least 1942 to prepare, and was caught utterly by surprise by the German invasion of 1941!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

They didn't switch sides: they were never allied with Germany!. They signed a non-agression pact with Germany in 1939, after many attempts to form an alliance with Britain and France were rejected!. Both Hitler and Stalin knew that the agreement would be broken, the only questions were when and by whom!. In 1939 and 1940, Stalin infuriated Hitler by taking advantage of the agreement to expand into parts of Finland and Romania, and to annex the Baltic states!.
Stalin was suprised when Hitler attacked in 1941 not because he trusted Hitler, but because he was convinced that Hitler was to smart to start a war with the Soviet Union while Britain was still fighting!. Soviet Military planners were trying to get the Red Army ready to fight Germany, they believed they would be able to launch an attack on Germany in 1943!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

The USSR didn't really switch sides: the Soviets and Nazi Germany were very much enemies!. As Germany started expanding before WWII, Stalin had been pushing the Western powers to fight Germany together!. When the British and French let Germany cut away part of Czechoslovakia at Munich, the Soviets thought that Germany was being steered towards the East -- that Britain and France were trying to avoid conflict with Hitler by getting Germany to attack the USSR instead!. So he signed a "Non-Aggression Pact" that the two (enemies) would leave each other alone!. Besides the fear of a German invasion without support from the Western Allies
1 - Stalin was greedy and used the treaty as a pretext to invade innocent nations!.
2 - The USSR faced a potentially hostile Japan, and could have wound up fighting a two-front war!.

There's lots of conjecture in any "what-ifs", but without signing the "Non-Aggression Pact," WWII might have begun with Germany and Japan attacking the Soviet Union from both sides and tearing it to pieces, perhaps without the Western powers ever getting involved!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Aside from being invaded by a massive German army, there were underlying tensions between the Soviets and the Nazis in charge of Germany!.

In the 1920's (if not before as well), Germany was in chaos- with two extremist groups fighting it out trying to gain control of the country!. The Nazis and other right-wing extremists fought Communists and other left-wing extremists, because while their tactics are similar- they are extremely opposed to each other!. Prior to Hitler's making the pact with the Soviets, many world leaders thought that Hitler would help keep the Soviets in check!. He even wrote about the massive jewish conspiracy (of which Communists were a part, since in his twisted, gassed mind the leaders were all Jews)

Strategically, invading the Soviet Union was a massive mistake!. Germany was on the offensive bombing England's air forces, and preparing to invade (operation Sealion), they were in North Africa and on the verge of pushing into Egypt under the desert fox (Rommell)!. Fortunately for Corporal Hitler, he failed to see the big picture and his ideology of detesting communists overrode reason!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Russia was a chaotic country ruled by a ruthless Dictator, Stalin!. They had been thrashed in WW1 by the Germans and were unable to fight any country!.
Molotov was the Foreign minister who signed a Peace Treaty with Germany to keep out of the war!. I was in Poland years ago and they had to teach that Russia was their saviour and England did not come into the war until forced to!. Indeed the Poles did not know that England declared war on Germany within three days of the German invasion of Poland!. I told some history teachers that they were teaching propaganda not history!. They were not allowed to teach or even know the truth!. However, Russia did not declare war on Germany, Germany declared war on Russia!. We flew Spitfires to give to Russia to help them to fight back!. We also had the 'Balkan convoys' who took arms and aid to unprepared Russia!.
The Russians built the T1 which was the best tank of the time and fought back!. The designer of the tank was imprisoned and died in prison as far as I remember!. Stalin was a murderer!. Watch the forthcoming BBC programm that is coming soon on Stalin!.
Fred HallWww@QuestionHome@Com

Hitler invaded the USSR in May 1941!.
This had always been his intention from the start when he invaded Poland in 1939!.
He outlined his plans in "Mein Kampf"
The war against France and Britain was an unexpected diversion from his original aim!.
He had thought they would not interfer!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hitler and Russia signed a non agression pact split up Poland

On Sunday, June 22, 1941, Hitler's Nazi forces stormed across the Russian border!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

USSR signed a pact with Germany in order to protect thamselves from the German offence!. But it didn't helpWww@QuestionHome@Com

Russia was never on Germany's side!.
By your logic, France and England were both on Germany's side too!. Www@QuestionHome@Com