From the beginning, the German government repeatedly asked Molotov whether the Soviet Union would keep to its side of the partition bargain.[95][96] The Soviet forces were holding fast along their designated invasion points pending finalization of the five-month-long undeclared war with Japan in the Far East, successful end of the conflict for the Soviet Union, which occurred in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol. On 15 September 1939, Molotov and Shigenori Tōgō completed their agreement that ended the conflict, and the Nomonhan ceasefire went into effect on 16 September 1939. Now cleared of any “second front” threat from the Japanese, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin ordered his forces into Poland on 17 September.
So the Soviets wanted to avoid war with Japan, and wanted to avoid war with the Nazis, and see what Britain and France would do. There were no plans to form an alliance with the Nazis.
I mean yes to the first part and to the second part I wonder what alliance you are talking about. I don’t think I’ve mentioned any alliance? It’s usually called a pact
Your point seems to be that the Soviets wanted to invade Poland, and did so willingly with the Nazis after agreeing to do so, rather than try to stop the Nazis from taking all of Poland and doing so after watching the West do very little to stop it.
I can agree to that. The agreement was just about dividing Poland between them, with obvious hint towards coming invasion, but it doesn’t go into more details.
Aside from optics, that
So the Soviets wanted to avoid war with Japan, and wanted to avoid war with the Nazis, and see what Britain and France would do. There were no plans to form an alliance with the Nazis.
I mean yes to the first part and to the second part I wonder what alliance you are talking about. I don’t think I’ve mentioned any alliance? It’s usually called a pact
Your point seems to be that the Soviets wanted to invade Poland, and did so willingly with the Nazis after agreeing to do so, rather than try to stop the Nazis from taking all of Poland and doing so after watching the West do very little to stop it.
I’m a bit confused, we are talking about the deal (the pact) they made that they did sign and respect?
Yes, the Soviets respected the pact, they just didn’t expect it to last, and the pact didn’t include joint plans for invading Poland.
I can agree to that. The agreement was just about dividing Poland between them, with obvious hint towards coming invasion, but it doesn’t go into more details.
That’s because the Soviets weren’t interested in invading Poland.
But that’s what they ended up doing. Tsundere invasion.