Peter Ruggenthaler

Drawing on recently declassified Soviet archival sources, this book sheds new light on how the division of Europe came about in the aftermath of World War II. The book contravenes the notion that a neutral zone of states, including Germany, could have been set up between East and West. The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin was determined to preserve control over its own sphere of German territory. By tracing Stalin's attitude toward neutrality in international politics, the book provides important insights into the origins of the Cold War.

Drawing on recently declassified Soviet archival sources, this book sheds new light on how the division of Europe came about in the aftermath of World War II. The book contravenes the notion that a neutral zone of states, including Germany, could have been set up between East and West. The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin was determined to preserve control over its own sphere of German territory. By tracing Stalin's attitude toward neutrality in international politics, the book provides important insights into the origins of the Cold War.

Midt under Anden Verdenskrig besluttede Stalin stort set over en nat at nedlægge den Kommunistiske Internationale, Komintern. Organisationen havde indtil da været omdrejningspunkt for den kommunistiske verdensbevægelse og et vigtigt redskab for sovjetisk udenrigspolitik. Efter alliancen med vestmagterne forekom en opløsning at være et vigtigt signal, så Stalin frisatte sine udenlandske kammerater. Eller gjorde han? Bogen har samlet danske og udenlandske forskere for at gøre status over forskningen i Komintern og de dansk-sovjetiske relationer og er første skud på stammen af et dansk-russisk samarbejde om i fællesskab at forstå vor nyeste fortid.