Originally Posted by
Jackonicko
Having gone to war to try to save Poland from domination by one totalitarian dictatorship, it was never likely that the UK and France would happily see Poland dominated by another one.
It was Stalin's unwillingness to implement this free and democratic aspect of Yalta that led directly to the Cold War, and ultimately to the defeat and collapse of the USSR.
UK and France provided little or no direct assistance in 1939 to the Poles when they were fighting an invasion.
UK and France were provided the opportunity where Stalin indicated a willingness to provide 1 million men with tanks, aircraft and artillery to German border in summer 1939 to prevent German invasion, UK and France ignored it with the senior UK/French people indicating there would be no discussions, a week later Molotov - Von Ribbentrop pact was agreed.
The free and fair democracy concept is great until one looks at this bringing Hitler to power, allow him swallow up Austria, take over Czechsloakia (as agreed by free and democratic countries) and allow other despots to power. This almost allowed UK under Lord Halifax to offer a peace treaty with Germany who would then have sent all its military against Russia. Russia would look at UK with its Empire and see a country proclaiming Democracy while holding onto its Empire by military means. It is difficult to envisage why Stalin would trust the west.............. by 1944 Russia has seen 3 Western invasions, WW1, Russian Civil war and WW2.
Democracy is a wonderful flawed concept that man uses to achieve its own ends at the expense of others.
The other methods are even worse.