БРИТАНСКИЕ ЛЕВЫЕ РАДИКАЛЫ В НАЧАЛЬНЫЙ ПЕРИОД ВТОРОЙ МИРОВОЙ ВОЙНЫ (1939-1941)

The work of British left-wing radicals at the beginning of the Second World war is considered, in particular the activities of the British Communists and Trotskyists in 1939-1941. The reaction of the British left on the most important foreign policy and domestic political events in the country is highlighted. The author shows that the Communist party, the largest left organisation in Britain, during the war moved to a moderate position. The article describes a fundamental changes in the policy of the British Communists under the influence of the policy of the Comintern and the USSR. It is proved that this resulted in lowering the prestige of the party, which advocated the making of the “people’s peace” and claimed in connection with the attack on the USSR that war turned from imperialist into a conflict between fascism and the USSR. It is shown how at the same time in the beginning of the war fractured Trotskyist movement significantly radicalized its slogans proclaiming “proletarian military policy”. It is argued that the Trotskyists were able to capitalize on abrupt changes in course of the Communist party and strengthened their influence among the masses. It is concluded that left radical alternative has not received popularity among the population, and the influence of leftist organizations on UK policy in the initial period of the Second world war was insignificant.