After the First World War, the German Army was in crisis, limited in size and equipment by the Versailles Treaty which ended the war. It was a shadow of the mighty force it had been in 1914. Help came, however, from a surprising source during the interwar period, Soviet Russia. I'm your host James Rogers and on today's warfare podcast I've dug deep into the

history archive to put out an episode with my old friend Ian Johnson.

Ian is a professor at Notre Dame University in the US and he is the author of a new book

Faustian Bargin. It's all about how the Soviet Union and Germany clubbed together

during that into war period before the Molot of Ribbentrock packed and after to start

rebuilding the German military might. It is a fascinating episode on everything

from tanks to strategy. Enjoy.

Ian, thank you very much coming on the podcast.

Dan, thanks for having me.

Your book is just stunning. on the podcast. Dan, thanks for having me.

Your book is just stunning and it's a reminder that we, we, the fall, the autumn of 2019, we are marking

the 80th anniversary of not just the German invasion of Poland but also the Soviet

invasion of Poland when they carved up the country between them. But you demonstrate

in this book that the cooperation between the Nazis and in fact the Germans and the Soviet Union goes goes much further back.

It does yeah it begins almost as soon as the First World War has ended.

And what that's remarkable what kind of as soon as the First World War has ended.

And what that's remarkable?

What kind of what shape does it take?

Well, as soon as the Treaty of Versailles concluded in the summer of 1919, the remnants of the German High Command who are upset about

the terms of the treaty begin to try to seek international partners. And they eventually find

help in the Soviet Union invading some of the terms of Versailles.

So beginning in 1922, they'll begin relocating and military industrial facilities

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