WWW2 history question

[256_Pete]

Hello all,

First off sorry if this is in the wrong forum section I just didnt know where else to post this. I actually have three questions so here goes, I hope somebody can help.

WW2.
Britain and France went to war over Germany's invasion of Poland, but what was their reaction to the Russian invasion of Eastern Poland ? I dont think I have ever read a history book that gives mention to this.

My other question may in some way relate to this. A few years ago I got talking to a guy who mentioned that in World War 2 he was held as a POW by the Russians for a period of time. I was interested but unfortunatly he didnt want to talk about it further. I believe him to be or British ancestory and I dont think he was one of the few Brits that enlisted in the SS, so anybody have any ideas who he could have ended up as a prisoner of the Russians ?

Were the British SS recruits captured by the Russians or did they manage to get themselves accross to the Western allies ?

Thanks for any help.

[coastie]

I think Britain and France kept quiet about Russia's takeover of the eastern part of Poland because they were still thinking that Russia may still be an Ally against Germany. It turned out to be a wise for move it kept Moscow 200 Km farther away from Germany and slowed their advance till the winter set in and stalled the campaign.

Your second question could be any number of reasons. Russians would intern/imprison anyone until their status was verified. If a Brit or American strayed across the lines or ship was sunk doing the Murmansk run or B-29 crashed in Siberia would have been captured and interrogated till they were satisfied he wasn't a spy.

[Peter_Suciu]

I think Britain and France kept quiet about Russia's takeover of the eastern part of Poland because they were still thinking that Russia may still be an Ally against Germany. It turned out to be a wise for move it kept Moscow 200 Km farther away from Germany and slowed their advance till the winter set in and stalled the campaign.

This has been debated for decades, and one opinion is that the Western powers did think they might have to fight the Germans and Soviets, especially after the Soviets declared war on Finland in the fall of 1939. Were those British and French troops heading to Norway to do more than just defend it from Germany?

And as far as the 200km further from Moscow it also convinced Stalin to trust the Nazis. In 1938 these nations were pretty hostile and the agreement to divide Poland warmed relations greatly. Had Germany invaded and not given the Eastern portion to the Soviets it is likely that the Stalin might have built up serious fortifications along the Western borders.