Why did Russia become an ally in World War 2?

Answer 1

Nations or even individuals with common enemies become allies. This was true for the US and Russia during WWII on two counts. First, Germany had declared war on both Russia and the US. So in fighting the same enemy, US and Russia become allies. Secondly, Japan had invaded most of eastern Asia including parts of eastern USSR during the 30's. One of the rare Japanese military defeats during the 30's came at the hand of Russian armies. The tension between Japan and the USSR remained until the end of the war. So again the US and Russia had a common enemy and thus became allies. because it made defeat of the Nazis so much easier. however it was an unlikely alliance that was never going to last as they had so many differences e.g. political spectrums - USSR was communist, US was Nationalist. i was wondering when the two became allies, does anyone know???

Answer 2

Because Germany betrayed its former ally and invaded Russia in the middle of the war, reaching deep into Russian territory, nearly to Moscow and Leningrad (Stalingrad at the time). The Russian counterattack was welcomed by England, France and the United States on the ancient principle that "any enemy of your enemy is a friend and ally, at least for the time being."

Answer 3

Russia had a non aggression pact with Nazi Germany.

Despite plenty of warning from the British Government Stalin did not want to believe that the Germans would attack Russia.

When they did the British were obliged to get in bed with a tyranny that was almost as bad as Nazi Germany.

Stalin was probably responsible for as many deaths of Soviet Citizens as Hitler.

Answer 4

Russia allied itself with Great Britain, France and the US in WWII because they were all fighting Hitler's Nazi Germany. My enemy's enemy is my friend.

This alliance was not in place from the start however. Initially Hitler and Russia's Stalin were partners, each greedily gobbling up its neighbors, though Hitler was much more successful than Stalin. Between 1939 and 1941 Hitler invaded and conquered eight countries and Stalin invaded five. Russia and Germany signed a "non-aggression pact" on August 22, 1939, which cleared the way for the Germans to invade Poland nine days later, starting WWII in Europe. Two weeks after the Germans invaded Poland from the west, the Russians invaded Poland from the east. They met in the middle, along the Vistula River, and thus divided Poland between them, extinguishing Poland as a nation. Great Britain and France declared war on Germany for invading Poland. When the Russians also invaded Poland two weeks later, no one declared war on Russia. Germany was a big enough opponent for the moment, and in any case, to get to Russia one would have to go through Germany, and that was not going to happen until Germany was defeated. In the summer of 1940 Hitler turned his attention westward and defeated France in six weeks. This left only Britain at war with Germany, for almost a year, until Hitler invaded Russia in June 1941.

Hitler had never made much of a secret of his aim to expand German "lebensraum" ("living room") to the east, which, of course, could only be done by wresting control of territory from Russia. And, as a right-wing dictator, Hitler and his Nazis had a natural hatred for the left wing dictators of Russia. Nazism and Communism, while both totalitarian, were opposites. Hitler had written of his plans for the Russians in his book, nearly twenty years before. Stalin refused to believe that Hitler would turn on him, even when his army began reporting the buildup of millions of German soldiers on the border between them, preparatory to the invasion. The only person on the planet Stalin trusted was Adolph Hitler.

The British leader Churchill also hated Communists and never made any secret of it. However, when Hitler invaded Russia, this meant that at last, Britain no longer stood alone against the Nazis. Churchill said "If Hitler invaded hell, I should at least make a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons".

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor six months after Hitler invaded Russia, the US declared War on Japan the next day, and on Japan only. Germany and Japan were allies, and the Germans had given their word - for whatever that was worth - to the Japanese that if war broke out between the Japanese and the US that Germany would declare war on the US. This the Germans did on December 11, three days after the US declared war on Japan, making the US a part of the coalition of Germany's enemies.

Answer 5

It was a very convenient alliance; the Third Reich was a threat to both countries, therefore both countries wanted to defeat it. After WW II, the alliance fell apart immediately, but during the war it made perfect sense.

Answer 6

The Russians were allied with Germany but then Germany turned on Russia and invaded them. Since Russia and the Allies now had a common enemy Russia joined up with the Allies.

Answer 7

France, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Canada, Australia, Italy (late war) to name a few

Answer 8

Russia, as part of the Soviet Union was one of the major Allies of World War II along with the US, China and the British Empire.