Why didn't the allies also declare war on Russia?

[Das_Reich]

I have often wondered why the allies didn't declare war on Russia when Germany and Russia invaded Poland. Doeas anyone have any evidence as to the motive in only going after Germany?

[Dackelstaffel]

Hi,

I guess because Germany was enough and Russia was out of range. There was the Germany between the Allies and the Russia.

Just for Info

The frenchs wanted to bomb the oil fields in Baku from Syria and Lebanon in 1939. The bombers were there but they just fought the brits in 1941. Anyway Baku was too far for the Maryland bombers.
The communist party was prohibited in France in 1939 and even a special police force called SPAC ( Section de Police Anti- Communiste or Anti communist Police Section) was set up in 1939.
I guess the frenchs wanted to take Narvik to cut the german iron way and to help the Finland in war with USSR but the Sweden refused to let a military force crossing the country.

[Tom Houlihan]

I have often wondered why the allies didn't declare war on Russia when Germany and Russia invaded Poland. Doeas anyone have any evidence as to the motive in only going after Germany?

Now, there's a helluva what if?!!!! That could be fun!!

Right after high school, whilst waiting to go in the service, I met a Pole who had been in the army in '39. Never saw a German, only fought the Russians. Sadly, he's long since departed. I wish I had understood what a resource I had in front of me!!!

[Shadow]

Now, there's a helluva what if?!!!! That could be fun!!

Boggles the mind doesn't it?

If Britain and France had declared war on Russia in 1939 - on 22 June 1941, hypothetically, would Operation Barbarossa have made Germany, and/or France, and/or Britain "Allies"??
Does Germany then declare war on Japan when they refuse to return Singapore to Germany's new "partner" - Britain?

WOW! - the possibilities are endless!

[Das_Reich]

Thats not really a what if question...I want to know WHY? It is totally illogical that that allies would not declare war an Russia, but only Germany, when both countries were invaders of an alliance country.

It appears there is a more sinister underpinning here. The question is WHY?

[redcoat]

Thats not really a what if question...I want to know WHY? It is totally illogical that that allies would not declare war an Russia, but only Germany, when both countries were invaders of an alliance country.
It appears there is a more sinister underpinning here. The question is WHY?

Its actually quite logical, and while it might be cynical its not sinister.

To quote a famous US president 'One war at a time, gentlemen please'

The Allies had half-heartedly declared war on Germany, because they were fearfull of the power of Germany, but felt they had to do something to counter Nazi expansionism and agression.
So to declare war on another powerful nation at this time would have been highly foolish.

To put it in a nut-shell. While declaring war on Russia may have been the honourable thing to do, it would also have been for the allies a stupid thing to do, if they wished to have any hope of winning the war they were already involved in.

[Jonb955]

Did Patton want to join up with the Germans later in the war to attack the Russians. Can't remember where i heard that.

[sid guttridge]

Hi Das Reich,

The Allies did not declare war on the USSR in September 1939 because they were under no treaty obligation to do so.

The British defensive treaty with Poland had a secret annex that specified under exactly what circumstances Britain was obliged to come to Poland's aid. Attack by Germany was one specified trigger. Attack by the USSR was not.

I have the treaty text if you want specific details.

I do not know the French situation, but I think they may have had even fewer formal obligations to Poland than did Britain at the outbreak of war.

Cheers,

Sid.

[4444]

The Allies did not declare war on the USSR in September 1939 because they were under no treaty obligation to do so.

True.

The secret add-in (not sure the name, protocol, appendix or anything else) to the Anglo-Polish Treaty specified that British obligations are binding only in case of the German attack, and Polish obligations are binding only in case of the Italian attack.

The Poles initially tried to manouvre the British into declaring war on the USSR (which, by the way, they failed to do themselves!), but of course FO was fully in position to turn this down.

The question "if Germany, why not Russia?" was asked by the British media very often in September and October 1939. This is why the British asked the Poles to agree that the secret stuff is published. The Poles did agree and the document was somehow disclosed indeed.

It is interesting to notice, though, that the British did not use any other means from the wide diplomatic arsenal to let Stalin know they were unhappy. I think they constrained themselves to a note, where they specified they did not recognise the Soviet takover. There was no Brisith initiative in the League of Nations, and it took the Finnish case few months later to ask the Soviets out.

***

formal side is only a part of it, and does not explain the whole thing. But I think everyone can easily understand the motives: it was the Germans threatening the vital British interests, not the Soviets.

[Das_Reich]

Sounds pretty lame to me!

[sid guttridge]

Hi Das Reich,

Lame or not, it is a legitimate reason. There was a substantive difference in British obligations to Poland in the two cases. Britain's actions were entirely consistent with its treaty obligations to Poland, as they had been to Czechoslovakia the previous year. (In the Czechoslovak case Britain had absolutely no defensive treaty obligations, unlike the French or Russians.)

Whether Britain was courageous or wise in both cases is another matter, but it was certainly not in breach of its treaty obligations on either occasion.

I note that Germany was in breach of its 1934 treaty obligations to Poland in September 1939 and that it honoured its treaty obligations to the USSR. Will you also be chastising Germany for not opposing the Soviet occupation of Eastern Poland? After all, it had dozens of divisions on the spot. Britain did not.

Cheers,

Sid.

[Das_Reich]

I won't chastise Germany, because Germany was only trying to take back land stolen in the unfair treaty of Versailles

[Dackelstaffel]

Hi,

For the France it was difficult to go to war when the enemy wasn't at the border and when all the strategy was based on a defensive line ( Ligne Maginot). The frenchs couldn't move their blockhaus. For the brits, they had not a strong army ( a few divisions) just the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

[sid guttridge]

Hi Das Reich,

And precisely which bit of Bohemia-Moravia was taken from Germany at Versailles?

Cheers,

Sid.

[Das_Reich]

Hi Das Reich,

And precisely which bit of Bohemia-Moravia was taken from Germany at Versailles?

Cheers,

Sid.

Hey Sid, I was refering to Poland and the fact that German land was taken, with German people living on that land. These German people were mistreated by the Poles and even the most left wing Euorpean socialist cannot honestly deny this fact.

Of course, I am always interested in facts that would be contrary to this. Please provide your evidence in support of any contra claim.