Anglo-Soviet Treaty of 1942

The Treaty followed on from the Anglo-Soviet Agreement of July 1941 that they would assist each other in fighting Germany and not seek a separate peace.

The first meeting to discuss the treaty took place on 15 December 1941, a week after the United States had joined the British Empire and the Soviet Union to oppose the Axis powers.

He also hoped to acquire Finland, which was at war with the Soviet Union as part of the Axis, and which had been an autonomous grand duchy of the Russian Empire.

Absent from the discussions were the other Allies, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, British India and the Republic of China.

The treaty represented a transition for Britain, which sacrificed some of its superpower status because of its weakened military state but still exerted diplomatic power during the negotiations.