1mpper posted:

stalin wasn't "shocked" or "unprepared" for the nazi attack, the soviets were begging england, france, and poland to unite in an anti-nazi two front war for six years and were prepared to dedicate massive resources to do so, but were shot down by the western representatives. the molotov-ribbentrop non-aggression pact was simply a way to buy time and short-term security while they figured out how to deal with the looming threat without the help of the rest of europe. it was definitely a lot more practical and aware than the munich agreement, which the soviets weren't party to and viewed as the western powers selling out a country to the nazis & put into perspective how much they could count on them. soviet actions in finland, the baltic states, and poland make sense as defensive measures against germany.

just another way in which stalin did nothing wrong