Vyacheslav Molotov (9 Mar. 1890 - 8 Nov. 1986)
Molotov served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1939 until 1949. In August 1939, Molotov signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, formalising non-aggression. Molotov did this under the direction of Stalin. The pact allowed Germany to invade Eastern Europe, whilst allowing the Soviets to strike Finland.
As foreign minister, Molotov visited Berlin to meet Ribbentrop and Hitler. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Molotov announced the invasion, and was responsible for establishing alliances with Britain and the United States, visiting London and Washington D.C. in 1942, and creating the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and a Lend-Lease Treaty with the respective nations.
Until 1944, Molotov also headed the Soviet Union’s atomic bomb project, until replaced by Beria, head of the security services. He further had a role, ironically, in the Soviet national anthem and made the writers include lyrics about peace.
For more information on Vyacheslav Molotov:
Roberts, Geoffrey. Molotov: Stalin’s Cold Warrior (Dulles, VA: Potomac Books), 2012.
Watson, David. Molotov: A biography (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), 2005.
As foreign minister, Molotov visited Berlin to meet Ribbentrop and Hitler. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Molotov announced the invasion, and was responsible for establishing alliances with Britain and the United States, visiting London and Washington D.C. in 1942, and creating the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and a Lend-Lease Treaty with the respective nations.
Until 1944, Molotov also headed the Soviet Union’s atomic bomb project, until replaced by Beria, head of the security services. He further had a role, ironically, in the Soviet national anthem and made the writers include lyrics about peace.
For more information on Vyacheslav Molotov:
Roberts, Geoffrey. Molotov: Stalin’s Cold Warrior (Dulles, VA: Potomac Books), 2012.
Watson, David. Molotov: A biography (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), 2005.
