Eastern Front Prelude # 0.6 Soviet Conflicts of the 1930s

Last time we spoke about Stalin’s Purges. In the aftermath of World War I, Germany faced chaos and despair, giving rise to Adolf Hitler, who capitalized on public disillusionment. The Weimar Republic struggled amid economic turmoil, while Hitler's National Socialist Party gained traction, ultimately leading to his appointment as Chancellor in 1933. He enacted measures that dismantled democracy and aggressively expanded Germany's territory, laying the groundwork for future conflict. Simultaneously, Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union embarked on rapid industrialization through ambitious Five-Year Plans, aiming to transform agriculture and boost heavy industry. However, this progress was overshadowed by brutal purges designed to eliminate dissent. As Stalin solidified his power, the repression created a climate of fear within society.The actions of both regimes intensified tensions throughout Europe, setting the stage for impending conflict. This interplay of political upheaval and authoritarian control in Germany and the USSR would play a crucial role in the escalation to World War II.

This episode is Prelude #6 Soviet Conflicts of the 1930s

Well hello there, welcome to the Easter Front week by week podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800’s until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. 

Today we are going to be exploring major conflicts the Soviet Union ran into with her neighbors. Ironically the vast majority of this episode is actually wars that I covered in the Fall and Rise of China Podcast such as the Sino-Soviet War, Xinjiang Wars, Mukden Incident and border skirmishes in Manchuria. If you want a much more in depth look at any of those check them out.

The Soviets were engaged in the Far East from the early days of the civil war, continuing a long-standing tradition of East-West interactions that have persisted through Eastern Europe for over a thousand years. In 1920, Mongolia was occupied by White forces, remaining under their control until 1924, when Soviet troops successfully defeated them. This victory was only achieved with the support of local guerrillas led by Damdin Sükhbaatar, who became one of the founding figures of the Mongolian People’s Republic. This event decisively aligned Mongolia with Moscow, which would have significant implications for future conflicts with China and Japan. 

The Empires of Japan and Russia had come into conflict, competing for influence over Manchuria. After coming out of isolation in the latter part of the 19th century, Japan developed a strong interest in Manchuria. This region was rich in natural resources such as coal and iron, as well as fertile land, all of which Japan lacked. It also offered additional space for Japan's rapidly growing population. Moreover, Japan was concerned that Russian expansion into Manchuria would threaten its interests in Korea and, by extension, Japan itself. As Yamagata Aritomo famously said, “Korea is a dagger aimed at the heart of Japan.” 

Then in 1899 the Boxer Rebellion broke out seeing Japan and Russia join a 8 nation alliance to combat the Qing Dynasty in league with the Boxers. While they were technically allies, Japan was very wary of Russia at this time. That is because Russia had invaded Manchuria for the war effort and after the Boxer Rebellion was quelled, well the Russians did not go home. Thus in 1904 this led to the Russo-Japanese War. In February 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur, initiating the war. The conflict quickly escalated, with Japan demonstrating its naval superiority and effective military strategies. Major battles, such as the Siege of Port Arthur and the Battle of Tsushima, showcased Japan's modernized forces and naval strength, leading to significant Russian losses. Despite being a major European power, Russia faced logistical challenges and underestimation of Japanese capabilities. Japan's victories not only shocked the world but also shifted the balance of power in East Asia. Internationally, the conflict drew attention, leading to US President Theodore Roosevelt's intervention in negotiations. The war concluded with the Treaty of Portsmouth in September 1905, brokered by Roosevelt. Japan gained recognition as a formidable military power, acquiring territories such as Korea and parts of