British Perceptions of Soviet Military Capability, 1935-9

Abstract

It is upon the third element specifically, British perceptions of Soviet military capabilities that this paper will concentrate. Just as the fear of German and Japanese aggrandisement played a role in the Soviet diplomatic volte-face, it similarly influenced British perceptions of the USSR. Those very factors, however, which rendered the USSR less dangerous than Germany and Japan in British perceptions also created doubts that the Soviet Union could be relied upon as an effective ally against Germany and Japan. Indeed, many in the West were demoralised by implications of the purge; doubts as to Soviet military capability assailed British leaders and persisted, in some cases, right up to 1941. On the other hand, on the 24th the COS were considerably less enthusiastic about Soviet military capability and, in a lengthy analysis of the Soviet military condition, concluded that the Soviet ability to influence military operations in Europe was limited.