Feeding the German Eagle: Soviet Economic Aid to Nazi Germany, 1933-1941

by Edward E. Ericson III

Overview

The dramatic story of Hitler and Stalin's marriage of convenience has been recounted frequently over the past 60 years, but with remarkably little consensus. As the first English-language study to analyze the development, extent, and importance of the Nazi-Soviet economic relationship from Hitler's ascension to power to the launching of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, this book highlights the crucial role that Soviet economic aid played in Germany's early successes in World War II. When Hitler's rearmament efforts left Germany dangerously short of raw materials in 1939, Stalin was able to offer valuable supplies of oil, manganese, grain, and rubber. In exchange, the Soviet Union would gain territory and obtain the technology and equipment necessary for its own rearmament efforts.

However, by the summer of 1941, Stalin's well-calculated plan had gone awry. Germany's continuing reliance on Soviet raw materials would, Stalin hoped, convince Hitler that he could not afford to invade the USSR. As a result, the Soviets continued to supply the Reich with the resources that would later carry the Wehrmacht to the gates of Moscow and nearly cost the Soviets the war. The extensive use in this study of neglected source material in the German archives helps resolve the long-standing debate over whether Stalin's foreign policy was one of expansionism or appeasement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275963378
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/1999
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	1840L (what's this?)

About the Author

EDWARD E. ERICSON III is Chairman of the Department of History at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas./e He has published articles and reviews in a variety of historical and general jourbanals.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Traditional Interdependence
Failed Economic Partnership
Talking about Talking
Restored Economic Partnership
Toward an Economic Alliance
The German Plan
The Soviet Plan
The Final Plan: Part I
Gas and Grains for Coal and Cruisers
Delivering the Goods
New Problems Addressed
The Final Plan: Part II
Grains for Guns
Germany Bites the Hand that Fed It
Conclusion
Appendices
Index

Editorial Reviews

Ericson (history, John Brown University) re-examines German-Soviet economic relations just before WWII. Drawing on recently opened archives, he contends that the resource-poor Third Reich was barely winning its "total war of improvisation" and therefore had to approach the USSR and accede to most of Stalin's demands. He argues that Hitler's attack on Russia was made primarily for ideological reasons but also because of concerns that the Soviet Union could not be trusted as an ally. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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