The secret section of the Baltic

9


The Gubastov-Von Yagov Pact is not as well known as Molotov-Ribbentrop, but without the first there wouldn’t be a second.



Is in stories moments, the analogy between which suggests. Two secret protocols between Russia and Germany, signed at different times, essentially designated the spheres of influence of these powers in Eastern Europe, although the first, so-called Petersburg, seemed to be limited to the Baltic Sea. And another thing that unites both documents - they appeared on the eve of world wars.

The Petersburg Protocol, sometimes called the secret, 29 of October 1907, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Arkadyevich Gubastov and Gottlib von Yagov, who headed Germany’s Foreign Ministry in 1916, is now forgotten. To understand its meaning, we turn to that time. The international political conjuncture is determined by the confrontation of two alliances: on the one hand, the Entente, on the other, Germany with Austria-Hungary. In 1907, the world is divided between two blocks. However, until the beginning of the First World War, some coalition members will attempt to change the alignment. They are looking for a rapprochement with Russia, which would be an ally in the coming war, or at least neutral.

In the same 1907, 31 of August, Russia signed an agreement with England on the division of spheres of influence in Asia. In the Far East, the status quo is fixed with Japan. Germany’s attempts to embroil Russia with France do not bear fruit. And yet, despite the deterioration of relations, Berlin leaves no intention to draw Petersburg into the orbit of its policy.

In Russia and then there were sensible people who understood that the British are not going to fight on someone’s side. Formally, they are with us in the union. But their main goal is to start a war in which Germany and Russia must destroy each other. Alas, Nicholas II, fascinated by the British, did not listen to this opinion. But if Russia came out on the side of Germany or at least stay neutral, world history would have gone a different way ...

Under the Petersburg Protocol, the parties agreed to maintain the status quo on the Baltic Sea and mutually guarantee the inviolability of their possessions in this region. The document addressed the issue of the demilitarization of the Aland Islands and the neutrality of Sweden and Denmark, their territorial integrity. Yes, these are just some of the problems of the region that are not the most important for their time. “The Baltic Protocol was the most tangible result of all attempts of the Russian-German rapprochement after the end of the Russian-Japanese war (and up to 1910). The fruit is meager because the practical significance of the protocol turned out to be small, ”says“ History of Diplomacy ”(volume 2, p. 618). As for Russia, one can agree with the conclusion: it apparently did not have a desire to go into this question. But for Germany, the protocol was important at least in that it provided a calm preparation for war in order to expand the living space for the German nation.

Analyzing past treaties and agreements, you come to the conclusion that Russian diplomacy never deeply delved into the essence of such documents and often did not bring the matter to its logical end. What is our trouble.
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

9 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. 0
    29 October 2017 07: 28
    VBR did not declare the first war by anyone.
    DO NOT SIT ON A STUMP, DO NOT EAT A PIE.
    read about the bombing of Belgrade by Austria-Hungary and the answer of RI
  2. Cat
    +6
    29 October 2017 07: 37
    Such "twists and turns of history" convey to students and students of historical faculties. So there is a reminder of the pact to the place, although the contents could have been revealed more.
    Analyzing past treaties and agreements, you come to the conclusion that Russian diplomacy never deeply delved into the essence of such documents and often did not bring the matter to its logical end. What is our trouble.

    Partly agree, but in our situation, the policy was determined by the only person "Emperor Nicholas II." Above, the author gently noted that the "English always touched" the latter? I will answer more rudely "fool .... to the throne" is God's punishment for the people of the whole country. But Kaiser Wilhelm warned the "niece" do not interfere!
    But the "skilled" sovereign once again "intervened" having lost the country, family and his life.
    So to burn the desire to "blur" it would be better if I drank vodka and ran around the women, maybe we were more intact!
  3. +1
    29 October 2017 08: 07
    In Russia, even then, there were sane people who understood that the British were not going to fight on any side. Formally, they are in union with us. But their main goal is to start a war in which Germany and Russia must destroy each other.
    ... What happened in the future ...
  4. 0
    29 October 2017 08: 19
    Quote: Kotischa
    Such "twists and turns of history" convey to students and students of historical faculties. So there is a reminder of the pact to the place, although the contents could have been revealed more.
    Analyzing past treaties and agreements, you come to the conclusion that Russian diplomacy never deeply delved into the essence of such documents and often did not bring the matter to its logical end. What is our trouble.

    Partly agree, but in our situation, the policy was determined by the only person "Emperor Nicholas II." Above, the author gently noted that the "English always touched" the latter? I will answer more rudely "fool .... to the throne" is God's punishment for the people of the whole country. But Kaiser Wilhelm warned the "niece" do not interfere!
    But the "skilled" sovereign once again "intervened" having lost the country, family and his life.
    So to burn the desire to "blur" it would be better if I drank vodka and ran around the women, maybe we were more intact!

    First of all, Nikill wasn’t a "little brother" of Willy .. Do you know the concept of "cousin"? Cousin is a cousin.
    George V was born on June 3, 1865 in Marlborough House (London); at baptism received the name Georg Friedrich Ernst Albert. His father is Edward VII, his mother is Alexandra of Denmark. She is the sister of Maria Fedorovna - the wife of the Russian Tsar Alexander III and the mother of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. George V was very outwardly similar to his cousin Nicholas II. The German emperor Wilhelm II was also brought to his cousin (Wilhelm, being the son of the English princess and German empress Victoria, was the grandson of the British Queen Victoria).
    And secondly, what does it mean that William warned not to intervene? Do you know the reason for the start of WWI? They all turned it in such a way that Nikolai ll could not help but intervene, from the word at all ... From that side, there were far from boobies ...
  5. 0
    29 October 2017 10: 41
    But for Germany, the protocol mattered, at least in that it provided calm preparations for war in order to expand living space for the German nation.

    What would change if there weren’t this protocol? Would Germany prepare for war restlessly?
    Analyzing past treaties and agreements, you come to the conclusion that Russian diplomacy never deeply delved into the essence of such documents and often did not bring the matter to its logical end. What is our trouble.

    If this remark also applies to the PMR, then I would like to understand: what has not been brought to the end there?
  6. +1
    29 October 2017 11: 34
    One point that is in doubt.
    There is such a book.

    Collection of treaties of Russia with other states. 1856-1917 / Ed. E. A. Adamova, comp. I.V. Kozmenko. - M.: State Publishing House of Political Literature, 1952. - 464 p.
    1. +2
      29 October 2017 11: 36
      In it on page 395 the specified protocol.
      1. The comment was deleted.
        1. The comment was deleted.
          1. +1
            29 October 2017 13: 37
            So whoever wants to Wikipedia writes. There are literate articles, there is a purely political ordering, and there are frankly stupid ones.
            1. The comment was deleted.
  7. 0
    30 October 2017 17: 50
    "And if Russia had stood on the side of Germany, or at least had remained neutral, world history would have gone a different way ..."

    How could Russia side with Germany in the war that Germany declared to Russia ??? This England could sit out (which Germany was counting on), but did not do this, and fit into the war.

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"