MOSCOW, August 21, 2009. In anticipation of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning what Russians know about this pact, how they evaluate its significance, what aims Stalin pursued, and what played the biggest role in helping Hitler to unleash WWII.
The majority of Russians know about the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in August 1939 (67%). Forty percent of them are aware of it, 27% heard something about it. Those who are aware are mainly residents of the Central and Far-Eastern Federal Districts of Russia (74% and 76% respectively), respondents aged above 35 (74-75%) and Russians with high level of education (80%). More than one-quarter of respondents (27%) heard for the first time about this treaty from the interviewer. Those who did not know are basically residents of the Urals (51%), 18-24-year-old respondents (45%) and Russians with average and lower level of education (32-34%).
As a rule, our fellow citizens do not find this pact reprehensible and think that Stalin had nothing to do but to sign this pact to delay the threat of war (57%). Those who support this idea are generally residents of the Central District of Russia (70%), adherents of CPRF and Fair Russia parties (64% for each) and elderly citizens (62%). Every fourth have the opposite point of view (25%), considering that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact only helped Hitler to unleash the war. Most of those who have such position are residents of the Urals (45%), adherents of LDPR (30%) Pravoe Delo, Yabloko and Patriots of Russia (37%) parties.
Russians have a clear understanding of what aims Stain pursued signing the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: 63% are confident that he wanted to avoid the war or at least to delay its outbreak. Most of those who have such opinion are from the Central District (75%), CPRF and Fair Russia parties` supporters (70% and 76% respectively). Only 14% think that Stalin wanted to divide the spheres of influence in Europe and to expend the boundaries of the Soviet Union - most of them are residents of the Urals (49%) and LDPR adherents (22%). The idea that Stalin hoped that the war between Nazi Germany and other Western countries would weaken Europe and subsequently facilitate the spread of communism is the least popular among Russians and supported by 9%, mainly from the North-Western Federal District (14%), as well as Siberians (15%) and adherents of such parties as Yabloko, Pravoe Delo, and Patriots of Russia (16%).
Least of Russians associate the outbreak of the Second World War with the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (14%); most of respondents report inaction of the League of Nations in 1933-1938 (28%). This is followed by 20% of those who mention the reluctance of England and France to include the USSR into the Anti-Hitler coalition predetermined the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (20%). Other 17% indicate the Munich Conspiracy as a reason for the war.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on August 15-16, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
In August 1939, the USSR and Nazi Germany signed the Non-Aggression Pact known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Are you aware of that? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and above | ||
I am aware of that | 40 | 26 | 28 | 41 | 48 | 50 |
I heard something about that | 27 | 23 | 28 | 33 | 26 | 25 |
I hear for the first time | 27 | 45 | 37 | 22 | 22 | 18 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
There are different opinions about the significance of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Which of the statements do you agree most? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware or heard something about that) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties that Russians would vote for if the elections to the State Duma were held next Sunday | |||||
"United Russia" | CPRF | LDPR | "Fair Russia" | Other ("Pravoe Delo", "Patriots of Russia, "Yabloko") | I would not participate | ||
There is nothing reprehensible in thisagreement. The USSR was negotiating with Western countries a joint defense against Hitler, but Western countries rejected such obligations, and Stalin had nothing to do but to sign the Pact with Germany to delay the threat of war and get prepared for it | 57 | 57 | 64 | 57 | 64 | 47 | 54 |
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact led to the division of Europe between Nazi Germany and U.S.S.R. Having signed this only agreement, Hitler had a free hand and started the war with Western countries. If it had not been Stalin, Hitler would have never dared to attack Western countries | 25 | 25 | 18 | 30 | 24 | 37 | 25 |
Hard to tell | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
What aims did Stalin pursue signing the Non-Aggression Pact with Germany? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware or heard something about that) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Federal Districts* | ||||||
CFD | NWFD | SFD | PFD | UFD | SFD | DFD | ||
Stalin wanted to avoid the war or, at least, delay its start and gain time to rearm and train the army | 63 | 75 | 55 | 59 | 65 | 37 | 60 | 63 |
Stalin wanted to divide the spheres of influence in Europe between the USSR and Germany and to expend the USSR boundaries | 14 | 8 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 49 | 11 | 4 |
Stalin hoped that the war between Nazi Germany and other Western countries would weaken Europe that would facilitate the spread of communism | 9 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 4 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
*Abbreviations
CFD - Central Federal District
NWFD - North-Western Federal District
SFD - Southern Federal District
PFD - Volga Federal District
UFD - Urals Federal District
SFD - Siberian Federal District
DFD - Far-Eastern Federal District
It was Hitler who unleashed the World War II. Which of the below-mentioned helped Hitler to unleash this war? (close-ended question, not more than two answers, % of those who are aware or heard something about the Pact) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties that Russians would vote for if the elections to the State Duma were held next Sunday | |||||
"United Russia" | CPRF | LDPR | "Fair Russia" | Other ("Pravoe Delo", "Patriots of Russia, "Yabloko") | I would not participate | ||
Inaction of the League of Nations (UN predecessor) allowing Germany to militarize its economy in 1933-38 and, subsequently, unleash the second world war | 28 | 26 | 30 | 37 | 44 | 32 | 26 |
Rejection of Great Britain and France to include U.S.S.R. into the Anti-Hitler Coalition in 1939 which predetermined the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | 20 | 19 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 11 | 24 |
Munich Conspiracy (the UK and France agreed on the Germany's absorption of Czechoslovakia in 1938) | 17 | 16 | 21 | 13 | 28 | 21 | 15 |
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (signed in 1939 between USSR and Germany 1939) | 14 | 14 | 12 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Other | 6 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Hard toe tell | 31 | 32 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 26 | 36 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!