The Great powers in Europe developed different strategies to deter or deflect Hitler's aggressive policy. British-French-Soviet cooperation in avoiding a war proved to be difficult and limited. Until today, the Soviet role in decisive developments from the Austrian "Anschluss" in March 1938 until the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact seems to be wrapped up in mystery. The collection presents for the first time central Soviet documents of this period in German translation.