And yet Russia (the USSR) was an ally of Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1941, ==
You will be surprised how many European countries were allies of Nazi Germany.
First off. Poland. She together with Germany partitioned Czechoslovakia in 1938. See Hitler and Joseph Beck Poland ambassador at meeting on January 6, 1939.
SO I think it was a God justice then some others partitioned Poland in 1939 just next year.
Also France, UK in Munich 1938 signed same treaty with same Hitler. SO why Stalin should not do it in 1939 just next year? He had good examples of politics from "democratic" countries
A strange “ally”.
Beck played a decisive role in early 1939 by staunchly refusing Hitler’s demands to subordinate Poland and to turn it into a German puppet state. Hitler demanded for Poland to give away strategic territories to Germany and to join the Anti-Comintern Pact, which was directed against the Soviet Union.
It’s true that at one point Hitler, who was an admirer of Marshall Piłsudski, envisioned Poland as a partner when they inevitably attacked the Soviet Union.
France and Britain were NOT allies of Nazi Germany; they were foes, who thought they could staunch the Nazi ambitions by appeasement, and thus gain time. Your beloved Russia, on the other hand, actually signed an agreement to JOIN Nazi Germany in its ambitions for conquest.