MOLOTOV: THE MAN AND THE COCKTAIL

The Winter War 1939-1940 - Part 1 - How to Destroy a Tank (00:04:04m)


Have you ever wondered why they call it a Molotov Cocktail? During the Winter War in the early throes of World War 2 the Soviets air-dropped tons of incendiary and cluster bombs on Finnish targets and fortifications. This set off a storm of condemnation against the Soviets, and when asked why they were bombing innocent Finnish people, Soviet Minister Vyacheslav Molotov wryly answered that he was not bombing them, but was instead delivering food to the starving population.

In no time at all the Finns started to call these air bombings, "Molotov Bread Baskets". But the term quickly evolved into "Molotov Cocktails" when the Finns began launching retaliatory strikes against advancing Russian tanks using home-made incendiary "Molotov Cocktails". The Finns aptly called it "a drink to go with the food."

This is just one of Molotov's enduring legacies, that makes him second to Stalin as one of the most evil mass murderers in history.

As Stalin's protege, Molotov was complicit in numerous war crimes. In the period 1932-33, he implemented Stalin's policy for the collectivization of agriculture, and committed an endless series of horrendous atrocities; the violent deportation of millions of kulaks to the notorious Soviet labor camps where they were worked to death, or died from exposure in sub-arctic elements.  Molotov also signed the Law of Spikelets, and was personally involved in directing the massive confiscation of 4.2 million tonnes of grain from Ukrainian farmers.  It instigated a man-made famine that killed over 10 million Ukrainians. It was genocide, the Holodomor, a fact which the Soviet administration continues to deny to this day.  Furthermore, during the Great Purge (1934-40) Molotov personally approved over 370 execution lists, far exceeding that of any other Soviet leader including Stalins'

The least known but among the most sinister was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed by Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Molotov and Foreign Minister of the German Nazi Reich Joachim von Ribbentrop. This pact was a secret protocol contained in the Soviet German Non-Aggression Agreement signed on August 23, 1939 on the very cusp of World War 2.  It laid the basis for the joint German and Soviet invasion of Poland. On September 1, 1939, the German armies invaded Poland from the north, west and south.  Then on September 17, 1939, the Soviet armies invaded from the east converging with their German counterparts, and partitioning sovereign Polish territory between them.

In the battles that ensued during that September every Polish military unit on the ground, and in the air was mobilized. Though the Poles were outnumbered and outclassed by German war materiel, they did not succumb easily but fought like "mad-men" to defend their beloved homeland.  Even Polish civilians participated in defense tactics by erecting barricades and digging trenches. Throughout the war, the Polish Underground secretly began to stockpile a variety of weapons, in preparation for the Warsaw Uprising (August 1944). Needless to say, guns and rifles were hard to come by and difficult to conceal. The consequence of being caught hording them, was execution on the spot. The Polish resistance had to augment their meager supplies by manufacturing a variety of weapons such as home-made grenades, flame-throwers, and of course, Molotov Cocktails - along with the ingenious contraptions used to launch them upon those nasty Nazi tanks.

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German-Soviet Friendship Treaty

September 29, 1939

Germany and the Soviet Union signed a friendship treaty today establishing the terms of Poland's partition. Germany laid control over the area west of the Bug River consisting of nearly 73,000 square miles and along with it over 50% of all Polish industries including the substantial mining sectors.The USSR took it's share of the spoils covering an area of 78,000 square miles of eastern Poland including all of Lithuania and confiscated all property held by the Polish state as well as privately-run businesses. An economic agreement has also been signed in which Soviet officials promise to provide Germany with the entire oil production of the Dohowicz oil fields. In Western Poland over 22 million Poles are now in the hands of the Nazi Regime.This marks the 4th time in history that the nation of Poland has been partitioned by its neighboring enemies, Germany and Russia. Since the Soviet invasion began almost two weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of Polish men, women and children have been rounded up and deported to Siberia. Those who survive the long treacherous journey will be subjected to hard forced labour.

Germany and Russia signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in Aug 1939 to partition Poland

After the third partition on October 24,1795, Poland ceased to exist as a nation for 123 years. It was not until after World War I, at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919, that Poland regained it's nationhood and independence. As part of the terms of that treaty the German provinces of Posen and West Prussia were granted to Poland as a corridor to the Baltic Sea.. Poland also obtained half of Silesia. Danzig was made a Free City under the control of the League of Nations.
 

Treaty of Versailles was signed in Paris, 1919 Thirty two countries were represented.

The RAF lost 5 Hampden bombers during a daylight raid at Heligoland, a small archipelago in the North Sea. The raid occurred in two waves. In the first wave, the Hampden bombers attempted an attack on 2 German destroyers but failed. In the second wave all 5 planes were destroyed.

In the British House of Commons today, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain commented whether Britain and France's entry into the war could stop Nazi aggression. Two days ago Chamberlain in an address to the House of Commons said "How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of who we know nothing. It seems still more impossible that a quarrel which has already been settled in principle should be the subject of war."  Meanwhile, a national census was conducted in Britain to assess rationing and mobilization efforts.

British PM Chamberlain debating in Parliament

Fritz Kuhn, leader of the pro-Nazi German-American Bund organization was arrested in New York City today and charged as an enemy agent of the United States. Kuhn served Germany during World War I as Infantry Lieutenant and was decorated with an Iron Cross. He moved to the United States in 1928 and in 1934 became a naturalized citizen. On March 19, 1936 Hitler personally selected Kuhn to be the leader of the newly formed German-American Bund.



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RUSSIA INVADES POLAND!!

September 17, 1939

Just before dawn in a move that stunned the Poles and the world, Russia without a declaration of war, invaded Poland. The Red Army, with over 4,700 tanks and 3,200 aircraft spanned the entire 800 mile border (1,300km) advancing rapidly with little opposition. Seven field armies numbering from 500,000 to one million troops are split between two Fronts: on the Belorussian Front, led by Comandarm Second Rank Mikhail Kovalyov, and on the Ukrainian Front led by Comandarm First Rank Semyon Timoshenko. Soviet Commissar Molotov declared that the USSR invaded Poland in order to defend and liberate the Ukrainian and Belorussian minorities. Soviet newspapers have been reporting wide-spread "brutal treatment" of national minorities in Poland, in particular Ukrainians and Belorussians although sources indicate that these claims are merely propaganda.

Soviet Troops Advancing Into Poland

The Soviet government stated it's intention to respect Finland's neutrality and recognize Slovakia as an independent state. Soviet forces of the 6th Red Army of the Ukrainian Front under the command of Filipp Golikov crossed the border just east of Lwow and started a fast march towards the city. Polish fighters strengthened their defence by withdrawing from areas around Lwow, and concentrated on the city.

Many Poles are jubilant. welcoming the Soviets as liberators in the belief that the Red Army came to save Poland from the Nazis. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. And so it is now. Poland and Russia have had a long and bloody history going back to the middle ages when both nations fought for control over borderlands. Over the centuries the numerous Polish-Russian wars resulted in the loss of Polish territory and brutal repression of the Polish people. Poland has been partitioned three times in her history, the last in 1795 in which Poland was partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Germany, erasing her from the map for 123 years. It was not until the end of World War I, when the Treaty of Versailles completely restored the independence and sovereignty of Poland. Now, sadly, we are witnessing Poland being partitioned a fourth time.

Soviet Artillery Unit in Poland

The Partition of Poland in 1772, 1793 and 1795

Meanwhile reactions from France and England are predictable. Polish Ambassador to the UK Edward Raczynski reminded British Foreign Secretary Edward Wood of the Polish-British Mutual Agreement. Signed just recently, on the 25th of August, the British guaranteed intervention should any "European power" attack Poland. Wood replied bluntly that it was Britain's business whether to declare war on the Soviet Union. In recent days he has clearly defended British policy of appeasement, having given no objections to German re-armament. He defiantly stated British intentions: give the enemy enough to satisfy their ambitions in the hope that there will not be a war. Prime Minister Chamberlain issued only general condemnations of the invasion. Despite the existence of a Franco-Polish Military Alliance of 1921, there is no indication that France might intervene either.

Winston Churchill

President Edward Raczynski

Edward  Wood

Polish Battalions are concentrated in the west fighting German troops, while the eastern part of Poland is under-protected with only 20,000 Polish troops.  While the Red Army is advancing, Polish troops are retreating from the west to the Romanian Bridgehead and have sustained German and Soviet attacks on either side. Many Polish units have regrouped in Romania and are awaiting relief from British and French infantry but none have appeared. British and French officials cannot be reached for comment.  All surviving Polish aircrew have flown to Romania. Heavy German artillery has begun shelling the crossing north of Brochow. Meanwhile the largest air operation yet conducted by the Luftwaffe are targeting Polish positions with a vengeance.

During the night main forces of the Army Poznan attacked German units in an attempt to break out of the German encirclement between Witkowice and Sochaczew. The Polish 15th Infantry Division and the Podolska Cavalry Brigade broke free and again crossed the Bzura in Witkowice. The 27th and 15th Infantry Divisions positioned at Brochaw also crossed the Bzura.  At the same time Army Pomorze are marching towards the villages of Osmolin, Kierozia, and Osiek.

Clashes between Soviet and Polish forces are occurring along the border. At 4 pm General Rydz-Smigly ordered Polish troops to fall back and engage the enemy in self-defence only. That message was never received as German bombing had severely damaged Polish communication lines. Polish units suffered many casualties.

In a demonstration of co-operation, as soon as the Red Army had arrived, German soldiers handed over control of Brest Fortress to the Soviet 29th Tank Brigade. The Fortress had been captured by Germany after the Battle of Brzesc Litewski. Just a few weeks ago, on August 23, Germany and Russia signed what was termed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, named after Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, and German Foreign Minister Yoachim Von Ribbentrop. Essentially it is a non-aggression pact in which they pledged neutrality in the event that either nation were attacked by a third party. But it included a secret protocol in which Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Europe into separate spheres of influence.

Soviet and German Officers collaborate

Ribbentrop signing the Non-Aggression Pact August 23, 1939

German Soldier gives flowers to Red Army

The Polish government refused to surrender or negotiate a peace settlement and ordered all Polish troops to evacuate from Poland and re-organize in France. In Warsaw, St. John's Cathedral was bombed during Mass. The dead are being buried in public parks as the cemeteries are full.  Warsaw is now completely isolated by the Germans, German Group Army North and Group Army South have converged at Siedlce in eastern Poland. Forty thousand Polish prisoners have been captured by the Germans at Kutno.

Polish Soldiers captured by Red Army

The British aircraft carrier the HMS Courageous was sunk by a German U-29 while on anti-submarine patrol off the southwest coast of Ireland. The carrier manned by 1,200 hands went down in only 20 minutes and took down 518 men with her as well as Captain W.T. Makeig-Jones.  After this attack, the second since the outbreak of war, the British Command has removed air-craft carriers from patrol.

The Italian government has assured the Greek government that it will not take military action against Greece even if Italy enters the war.


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