the digitization of domestic and foreign trophy archives in addition to the state archive took part of the archival service of Russian foreign Ministry, the defense Ministry, the FSB and SVR. First portion of the document is devoted to the prehistory of the Second world war and covers the period from January 1933 to August 31, 1939. More than 1700 of archival documents, photographs, newsreels. About half published for the first time. All digitized documents commented on in Russian and English languages.
– Materials of the project reflect the phase-out of Germany from the Versailles Treaty, the accelerated militarization of the Third Reich and its transition to a policy of naked aggression. The documents also reveal the policy of “appeasement” of Germany by the Western powers since coming to power of the Nazis before the German attack on Poland, – told “RG” the head of the Federal archival Agency Andrey Artizov. – Due to the wide scientific and public turnover of archival materials new lighting get debated and sought after today as in academic science, historical journalism topics: the attempts to build a collective security system in Europe, the Anschluss of Austria, the Munich agreement and betrayal of the Western powers and Czechoslovakia, the dismemberment and liquidation of the Czechoslovak state, the relationship between Nazi Germany and Poland, the failure of the Moscow negotiations of representatives of the USSR, Britain and France on joint resistance to German aggression, the conclusion of the Soviet-German non-aggression Pact (the Treaty of non-aggression between the USSR and Germany as we have published).
Among the posted in open access evidence of the era there is little known. For example, in the keynote speech of Hitler at a meeting with leaders of the Reichswehr 3 February 1933 (published intelligence material transfer records) contained the installation of the Nazis to “save” Germany and transformation of Europe under its rule. Even then, at the dawn of his reign, Hitler was not shy about the key points of its internal and foreign policy program: the rejection of democracy and establishment of dictatorship, “eradicate Marxism”, “the extension of German territory,” “the expansion of the German people, the purpose of which will be probably the East” (“However, the Germanization of the population of the conquered lands is impossible. You can only germanise the territory. Need… to unconditionally send a few million people”).
the high level of Soviet strategic Analytics and forecasting says a memo to the heads of Soviet military intelligence Y. K. Berzin and A. M. Nikonov, the chief of staff of red army A. I. Egorov application reports the ratio of military forces of States Versailles and universally groups and the importance of the “Danzig coridora” (16 may 1933). For example, it noted the crucial importance for Germany’s “rearmament and militarization of the population”, which will continue to proceed to the “revision of the Versailles Treaty”, referred to the dual position of Britain, which “tries to portray itself as a power standing above all groups and aims to take on the role of the arbitrator”. Soviet analysts have drawn attention to the problem “Danzig corridor” which war might break out in Europe (it is the situation of the free city of Danzig in 1939 led to fatal escalation of German-Polish relations).
the Quality of Soviet intelligence shows intelligence material “Secret proposals of Hitler to the British government” (not later than 4 July 1933). It tells about the secret consultations of the leadership of Germany and the UK. The Fuhrer offered “to help the British government in its struggle against the Bolshevik danger”, instead demanded “the liberation from the shackles of the Versailles Treaty.” Hitler declared that in case of war against the Soviet Union in Alliance with Britain Germany would be able to set body numbering two million people. Offers of friendship and Alliance was favorably considered by the British foreign office, negotiations were conducted about the Anglo-German commercial agreement with perspective “section of the Russian market” after “changes in the political situation in Russia.”
Another policy brief. This time the 4th Directorate of the headquarters of the red army “the Military the results of Hitler’s regime (January 1, 1934)” (not later than 22 February 1934). It contains a detailed analysis of the activities of the Nazis in the “rearmament” of Germany, its rapid militarization.
In a letter to the Soviet military attaché in Poland N. And. Semenova of 13 December 1934 is an interesting application – a diary entry from TASS correspondent about the militant sentiment among the Polish generals – the toast raised by senior officers during a friendly feast for the Union of Poland with Germany and Japan, for the Polish division received the order for the capture of Kiev.
Or autograph Stalin, who corrected the article of the Deputy people’s Commissar of defense of the USSR M. N. Tukhachevsky, “Military plans of Hitler” (29 March 1935). It is an attempt to predict the direction of German expansion in Europe: “East” or “West”? It is noteworthy that Stalin corrects Tukhachevsky, noting that “anti-Soviet spearhead” of the “imperialist plans of Hitler” is a convenient smokescreen for covered revanchist plans in the West (Belgium, France) and in the East and the South (Poznan, Czechoslovakia, the Anschluss)”.
Among the documents of the project there is a curious mention of the supposedly lost “a secret Protocol to the Pact Hitler-Pilsudski”. They, in particular, provided that “the Polish government is obliged to provide free the passage of German troops if these troops will be called upon to respond to provocation coming from the East or North-East” (i.e. in the event of armed conflict with the Soviet Union).
So about this secret German-Polish Treaty of 25 February 1934, referred to in the letter of the French foreign Ministry, 4 April 1935. It says it is published by the Paris weekly “Acute-MUA”. The document allows you to evaluate one of the most contentious issues of the pre-war history, active contacts between the leaders of Poland and Nazi Germany.
the report of the chief of the razvedupr of the red army S. P. Uritsky, people’s Commissar of defense K. E. Voroshilov “About the demonstration of the Romanian fascists against the Spanish Republic” (14 February 1937) describes the episode, talking about the similarity of political-ideological orientation of the Polish and the Nazi leadership: in the posthumous honoring of the victims of the Romanian volunteers who fought on Franco’s side, was attended by the German Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler and foreign Minister of Poland J. Beck, who “laid wreaths on the coffin of the slain officers.”
memo to the Deputy head of RU the red army A. G. Orlov, Commissar of defense Voroshilov to the application of the collection of materials (24 Jan 1939) on the preparation of the visit of J. Beck, in Germany (in which Beck stated that “Poland has only one great power, to which it may adjoin, Germany”), on the negotiations of the Minister of foreign Affairs of Germany I. Ribbentrop Pact with French counterpart Minister of foreign Affairs of France Jacques bonnet in Paris (Ribbentrop stated, that “the best guarantee for Czechoslovakia are its friendly relations to Germany” and France “must break his connection with Poland and the Soviet Union”).
Very interesting information about the revelations of the new Polish Ambassador to Iran: “in a few years Germany will start a war against the Soviet Union, Poland, voluntarily or under duress will support it. In the case of the conflict, Poland is more profitable to be on the German side.” The Ambassador was going “all activities… to submit to the belief of the Persians and Afghans of the need to promote their role in a future war against the USSR”. Provides and assessment of the prospects of defeat of the Soviet Union, the German military representatives in Warsaw. It is also reported to Italy’s role in the creation of Carpathian Ukraine. Outside of the analysis is the German intervention in Spain during the Civil war.
Hope Barinova, Director of the Historical-documentary Department of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia:
– Many of those who are interested in history without its ideological veil, without trying to pull up historical facts for short-term political interests, will have the opportunity to seriously, objectively and impartially by to make a picture of what happened on the way to world war.
the Value of this project cannot be overstated. Because for the first time the General public will be offered a set of documents that complement each other. It is important the integrity of the picture before the war. For example, diplomatic documents of this period were published a long time ago. There’s a serial publications of Ministry of foreign Affairs “Documents of foreign policy of the USSR”, which included specially declassified documents, including those that are especially prized is the cipher telegrams or reports of the ambassadors of the Supreme leadership of the country. Here we for the first time, you will see not only the diplomatic documents, but also how they were estimated leadership of the country, how they were supplemented with documents produced intelligence, both military and political. And how political decisions are made on the basis of documents received through diplomatic and military channels.
I Must say that Soviet diplomats and special services very clearly and correctly estimated the pre-war situation, were able to allocate the main thing, analyzing what happened from 1933 to 1939. For example, as positions of Germany on the gradual abandonment of the Versailles Treaty (remember that the Soviet Union was not a party to that system) has gradually led to the fact that the country began to feel the master on the European continent. And the role that the Western powers, and who supported Hitler in his ambitions.
the event Analysis can be done and the reader of these documents. The organizers of the project do not impose their point of view, they just show you how it was.
of Course, the full picture ever you cannot create. Always remains something unsaid. And the historian, and the archivist there is hope to find here is the same document that tells about the missing items, will shed light on the unknown episode of history… But what is done with Rosarkhiv, the Federal archives, archives of the secret services and my colleagues from the archives of the foreign Ministry to finally show a comprehensive picture, it is difficult to overestimate.
We give this online project is an opportunity for our foreign colleagues to look at these documents – they have a review in English.
