AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level…
Full specification wording
2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only): Stalin and international relations: co-operation with Germany; entry into the League of Nations; pacts with France and Czechoslovakia; intervention in the Spanish Civil War; reaction to Western appeasement and Japanese aggression; the Nazi-Soviet Pact and its outcome
Stalin's foreign policy shifted pragmatically to secure the USSR.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 2 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Stalin's foreign policy shifted pragmatically to secure the USSR. Initial co-operation with Germany ended with Hitler's rise, prompting a search for collective security. This led to entry into the League of Nations in 1934 and mutual assistance pacts with France and Czechoslovakia in 1935. Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War aimed to combat fascism without provoking a wider conflict. However, Western appeasement at Munich and Japanese aggression in the East convinced Stalin that capitalist democracies would not protect Soviet interests. Consequently, he orchestrated the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact, securing a temporary non-aggression guarantee and territorial gains, though this ultimately failed to prevent the 1941 German invasion.
What earns the marks
- Trace the shift from early Soviet-German co-operation to the pursuit of collective security via the League of Nations and pacts with France and Czechoslovakia.
- Evaluate the motivations and limitations of Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War.
- Analyse how Western appeasement and the threat of Japanese aggression influenced Stalin's strategic calculations.
- Assess the causes and outcomes of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, including its role in delaying war and expanding Soviet territory.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the dates and sequence of the pacts.
Put it right: Ensure the pacts with France and Czechoslovakia (1935) are placed before the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939).
Assuming Stalin trusted Hitler when signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Put it right: The pact was a pragmatic, tactical move to buy time and avoid a two-front war, not a genuine alliance.
Ignoring the role of Japan in Soviet foreign policy.
Put it right: Acknowledge that border conflicts with Japan significantly heightened Stalin's fear of a two-front war.
Exam tips
- Link Stalin's foreign policy decisions directly to his domestic priorities, such as the need for peace to complete the Five-Year Plans.
- Use the Munich Agreement as a turning point to explain why Stalin abandoned collective security in favour of an agreement with Nazi Germany.
- Evaluate the outcomes of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in both the short term (territorial gains, time bought) and the long term (Operation Barbarossa).
Try the lesson
The start of the 2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only): Stalin and international relations: co-operation with Germany; entry into the League of Nations; pacts with France and Czechoslovakia; intervention in the Spanish Civil War; reaction to Western appeasement and Japanese aggression; the Nazi-Soviet Pact and its outcome lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary motivation for the Soviet Union's entry into the League of Nations in 1934?
Listen
Stalin's foreign policy shifted pragmatically to secure the USSR. Initial co-operation with Germany ended with Hitler's rise, prompting a search for collective security. This led to entry into the League of Nations in 1934 and mutual assistance pacts with France and Czechoslovakia in 1935. Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War aimed to combat fascism without provoking a wider conflict. However, Western appeasement at Munich and Japanese aggression in the East convinced Stalin that capitalist democracies would not protect Soviet interests. Consequently, he orchestrated the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact, securing a temporary non-aggression guarantee and territorial gains, though this ultimately failed to prevent the 1941 German invasion. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Trace the shift from early Soviet-German co-operation to the pursuit of collective security via the League of Nations and pacts with France and Czechoslovakia. Evaluate the motivations and limitations of Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War. Analyse how Western appeasement and the threat of Japanese aggression influenced Stalin's strategic calculations. Assess the causes and outcomes of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, including its role in delaying war and expanding Soviet territory. A common slip: Confusing the dates and sequence of the pacts. Instead, ensure the pacts with France and Czechoslovakia (1935) are placed before the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939). Exam tip: Link Stalin's foreign policy decisions directly to his domestic priorities, such as the need for peace to complete the Five-Year Plans.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. German invasion of the USSR
- 2. Entry into the League of Nations
- 3. The Nazi-Soviet Pact
- 4. Pacts with France and Czechoslovakia
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
The impact of Western appeasement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The geopolitical threat of a two-front war
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- The impact of Western appeasement
- Western appeasement at Munich convinced Stalin that capitalist democracies would not protect Soviet interests, leading him to abandon collective security in favour of an agreement with Nazi Germany.
- The geopolitical threat of a two-front war
- Border conflicts with Japan significantly heightened Stalin's fear of a two-front war, and the pact was a tactical move to buy time and avoid such a war.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of 2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only): Stalin and international relations: co-operation with Germany; entry into the League of Nations; pacts with France and Czechoslovakia; intervention in the Spanish Civil War; reaction to Western appeasement and Japanese aggression; the Nazi-Soviet Pact and its outcome
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge