David Kennedy, Andrew Roberts and Stephen Kotkin Discuss the Big Three of the 20th Century
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Published 2019-08-07
What did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin want at the beginning of the Second World War? Peter Robinson starts the discussion by why the “big three” came together as allies in response to Operation Barbarossa during the war. What did the leaders of the “grand alliance” of Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union want? What were their national interests?
Robinson asks Roberts if Churchill aimed to preserve the British Empire. Roberts explains that Churchill’s interests were just in national survival. As Britain was under the threat of massive invasion from Germany, he wanted to make sure that the Russians stayed in the war until the Germans were wiped out completely. Roberts also notes that Churchill wanted Russia to ensure that the Americans, when they did finally enter the war in December 1941, were guided toward a Mediterranean strategy.
Kennedy discusses Roosevelt’s motive for joining into an alliance in the aftermath of Operation Barbarossa, before officially entering the war. Kennedy says that Roosevelt wanted to make the world safe for the democratic practices and institutions that had already been established, but he did not seek to expand democracy throughout the world. Next, Robinson asks Kotkin about Stalin’s aim for allying with Britain and United States as well as why Stalin did not quickly respond to Hitler’s actions in Soviet Union despite having one of the biggest armies in the world. Kotkin replies that there was misinformation that made Stalin think that Hitler would not actually attack, that Hitler was only amassing the troops to blackmail Stalin into giving up Ukraine and other territories without actually having to fight. Lastly, Kotkin explains, Stalin also joined the grand alliance for national survival.
Robinson then continues the discussion with Roberts, Kennedy, and Kotkin by asking how things turned out for the three allies after the war. They examine who won and who lost over both the short term and the long term, as well as how the postwar world set the stage for the emergence of new strong powers, particularly China.
This event addresses these and many other important lessons and questions:
• What happens when an international system that is supposed to keep the peace among nations breaks down?
• How do nations deal with the breakdown and rebuilding of international order?
• How can Western civilization remain strong?
• What are the defense resources required to protect free countries from unpleasant predators in the world?
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All Comments (21)
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Came here for Stephen Kotkin. Free education is amazing.
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Mr. Kotkin brings clarity to each situation he talks about.
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"He never gave in." You could hear the reverence that Roberts holds for Churchill as he spoke that sentence.
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What a great group of historians to get together.
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This type of content should be on mainstream tv and taught in all schools 🙏🇬🇧🙏
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I can’t get enough of Professor Kotkin! Kudos to you, Peter!
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Peter Robinson is such an excellent moderator, I love how he conducts himself and enjoys and is interested in the actual subjects he is discussing with the lecturers/speakers. I also of course am an incredible fan of Stephen Kotkin and his entire body of work as well as his interviews with Peter Robinson at the Hoover Institution.
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Andrew Roberts is such a class act.
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I'm a simple man. I see Mr. Kotkin- I press 'like'. Finally proper video! Fantastic discussion, great guests. Thank you Mr. Robinson and thanks HI for making this and PLEASE invite them again, maybe drop professor Victor Hanson and somebody focused on Germany here and there to spice it up- so many things I'd like these people to talk about together. Valuable, informative and amusing- a great joy to watch!
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Thanks to Andrew Roberts for pointing out the victory at Tunis. One of the greatest allied victories of the war, and completely forgotten by most historians.
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I joined for Roberts (and the topic, and the host). I will be looking for more Kotkin. I love all four men and greatly enjoyed this!
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It seems finally, we're getting more of the complete picture of these three war leaders. A powerhouse of an event.
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With the overwhelming amount of gobbledygook content thats out there, this is gold! I feel smarter because I watched it (twice). Stay Golden!
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Excellent! What a privilege to hear that discussion.
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I wish this video went on for a couple more hours...great stuff!
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Kotkin is the star of this show. His original research on Stalin gives him a huge insight and advantage in discussions of this kind. I found this discussion to be very informing, thankyou Hoover.
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26:17 Keeping Britain in the war with its mighty navy was an imperative. It keeps Germany in a two-front situation and allowed the U.S. to deploy our navy in the Pacific. Keeping Britain in the war entailed helping it protect it's oil and food supply from the middle east/India. This is the Mediterranean Strategy.
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Excellent discussion. Three fine historians at the top of their game. (UK)
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Stephen Kotkin's take on Stalin's approach provides clarity to enigmatic. Andrew Robert's encapsulation of Churchill, perhaps, the greatest of all life's lessons. Thank you.
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Wonderful insights, so intelligently shared, very well set up and really well facilitated by Peter Robinson, I have to say.
