> The Soviets climbed into bed with Hitler, and got half of Poland as their payment on the counter. <
Many years ago I took a political science course that examined politics from the other guy’s (non-American) point of view. One of the topics was the Hitler-Stalin pact of 1939.
Stalin watched as France and Britain let Hitler take Austria in 1938. Then Stalin was deliberately excluded from the Munich conference that gave Hitler Czechoslovakia. So maybe Stalin is thinking, the West won’t stand up to Germany. I’d better make a pact with Hitler, or I’m next.
I’m not saying that’s the correct interpretation. But it is something to think about.
Highly recommend watching this, gives a lot of insight as to what went on behind the scenes, plus you get Gandalf as Hitler.
Countdown to War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QdVLKrs7A4
Hitlers hope was to crush France. Then ally with Britain, Italy, Poland, and Japan to attack the Soviet union. This was Stalins greatest fear, that was a big reason why he signed the pact with Hitler. So the west would destroy themselves and he would pick up the pieces.