Diplomatic initiatives

The whole system of the Soviet diplomatic initiatives in the international relations was focused on preserving peace at any cost, keeping at bay those forces, which were seeking military solutions to their political aspirations, and winning time to consolidate the defence of the Soviet Union. As the Soviet political and military leadership issued from the ideological premises, they foresaw that the most probable enemy of the socialist Soviet Union would be nazi Germany. However, they were afraid of the possibility to face an international crusade mounted by the Western democracies together with Germany. To the Kremlin such a perspective looked very probable in view of the collapse of the Anglo-Franco-Soviet talks in the spring and summer of 1939, as well as mounting anti-Soviet propaganda in the West. In such circumstances the Soviet Union accepted the German proposal to conclude the non-aggression treaty, which was signed on 23 August 1939. More >>>

Making the plans

The original plan of the war with the United States, worked out in 1930s by the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, foresaw that the navy would "wait" for approaching American fleet just like it happened with the Russian fleet in 1905. Some hopes were put in weakening the enemy force through air and submarine attacks from the outlying Japanese islands. But the fates of the campaign would be decided in a coveted general battle, in which the decisive role would be on the artillery of the Japanese battleships, and aircraft-carriers would be assigned to auxiliary tasks. More >>>

On the Yugoslav soil

For almost three and half a year peoples of Yugoslavia conducted persistent struggle with the German invaders, their satellites, and domestic fascists almost in complete isolation from the rest of the fighting Europe. But when the Army Group Southern Ukraine collapsed, and Romania and Bulgaria turned tables and declared war on the fascist "Axis", the situation in the Balkans changed cardinally. At the same time Soviet forces crossed the borders of Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and approached the north-eastern frontier of Yugoslavia. More >>>

Italo-Abyssinian War

Abyssinia (Ethiopia) since the ancient times has been an important link on the shortest way from Europe, along the African coast, to India and China. Building of the Suez Canal had strengthened that position of Abyssinia, and attracted attention of great colonial powers: Great Britain (which ruled in Indies), France (which ruled in Indo-China), and Italy (which sought acquisition of colonial possessions). Penetration of European powers into Abyssinia resulted in colonial partitions of her sea coasts from Suakin to the Cap Guardafui, and farther to Zanzibar. More >>>