ABSTRACT
During the autumn, in the light of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and the Polish campaign, the British analysed Soviet capabilities from the perspective of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as a military adversary. The campaign in Poland provided the British with an opportunity to make an assessment of the Red Army's capabilities based on its conduct in action. It appears that the campaign did not provide them with any reason to really change earlier perceptions. The British seemingly regarded Soviet oil dependence as quite crucial and also believed oil to be in relatively short supply. Assessments regarding aircraft were the only estimates available regarding the numerical strength of armaments at this time, and they also included an evaluation of aircraft production. The Western Powers contemplated the possibility of blocking German iron ore imports from Sweden, but the Soviet-German rapprochement opened up a new perspective to deny Germany oil from the Caucasus.
