Source-Based Questions on Ussr Weakness After World War One free essay sample

Source A’s purpose if to inform the Reichstag of the USSR’s weakness and needs in economic aid. Dr Walter Simon is paying respects to the Soviet Republic, hence giving a positive view on the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 2) The treaty of Rapallo had enormous benefits for both Russia and Germany. According to source B, some reasons for this entente would have been to compensate the war and civilian damages; indeed, this treaty permitted both countries to get back on their feet military, politically and economically. This contrasts with the reasons cited in source A, where it seems more in an act of pity for Russia that Germany sign the treaty, in fact, in source A, Russia is considered a weak state that needs aid, whereas in sources B and D, Russia is viewed as equally weak military and economically where they shall co-operate in a spirit of mutual goodwill in meeting the economic need of both countries. We will write a custom essay sample on Source-Based Questions on Ussr Weakness After World War One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In source B the approach to the treaty is much more peaceful and strategically effective directly on the economy and the politics, which opposes source D who has a much more aggressive outcome to the settlement. Indeed, in source D, the agreement is concentrated on the issue of Poland, which both countries seem to be opposed against, and where a reason for the signing of the treaty is made out of hatred against Poland and how it weakens both countries. Sources D and A share a common opinion on the inferiority of Russia to Germany, as source D cites that Germany will create in Russia an armaments industry made to serve the Reich. 3) Source C’s origin is an extract from a letter from Chicherin to the French foreign minister on the treaty of Rapallo on the 29th of April 1922. The purpose of this letter was clearly to let the French government know that the treaty of Rapallo had no secret intentions against the French. The value of this source for historians would be its connectivity with the moment in history when it was recorded and the actual point of view of one of the players of European history. The fact that it is such a major component of the time – Chicherin – that writes the letter gives this historic letter an even greater deal of importance, for he had personal experience and direct views on what was happening at that time. However the limitation in this letter is that it may as well be untrue facts he is stating but only his personal opinion and viewpoint. Considering the relationship between the reader and writer, prejudices and cultural standpoints of the author are to be questioned. The origin of source D is one of the proposals to partition Poland to the Reichswehr leaders after the Treaty of Rapallo by General Von Seeckt on September 11th 1922. The purpose of this proposal is to express a negative viewpoint on the elevation of Poland as an independent country. The speaker is clearly trying to convince his audience teaming up with Russia to eliminate Poland. The value of a document like this for historians is that it provides and indication of the nature of some feelings against Poland from the Germans, as the facts that are stated in the source are justified and make sense, it would probably be shared with the public. Thus enhancing the value of knowledge in international relations at that time, providing an intimate glimpse into these relations. However the limitation is of course the fact that this opinion might be false and completely unshared with the public, molded around personal hatred and opinion. 4) Russia and Germany had both been undermined from the treaty of Versailles, with Germany being an enemy of the powers of the league of Nations and Russia haven gotten out of the war before its end, both had had disastrous consequences due to the treaty of Versailles. In the early 1920s Germany was interested in signing a treaty with the Soviet Union to enhance political, economic and military expansion and to prevent any more threat from the Polish Republic. Poland was apparently France’s vassal and with its emergence, took some land away from both Germany and Russia, hence invigorating hatred from its neighbors. This tension between the small state and the two major powers continued and menaced the peace settlement that was supposed to be implemented by all nations according to the treaty of Versailles. Germany wanted to rearm the Reichswehr and this went against the articles settled in the Treaty of Versailles, which is why Germany and the Soviet Union secretly settled some points of the Rapallo treaty underground, such as the land the USSR allocated for German military training. This went against the treaty of Versailles because it stated that Germany was only allowed 100,000 trained military soldiers. Here are two issues that transgress the Treaty of Berlin, indeed with the treaty of Rapallo came an empowering of Germany and Russia, which was what Versailles settlements were looking to diminish. In fact for France the treaty of Rapallo greatly weakened the chances of isolating Germany, which now informally allied with Russia. This meant that the whole Geo-political settlement created with the emergence of the small states such as Poland was threatened because they were now surrounded with two major powers that were helping each other out economically, politically and military. The impact of Rapallo on the small states was that two major powers that hated the new emergences of these newly independent nations were now allied together with hatred. This meant that if Germany and Russia recovered quickly enough (and with the new cooperative treaty this was likely) the newly made states were going to be stuck in the middle and would suffer a great deal of tensions from Germany and Russia.