Maxim Litvinov

Maxim Maximovich Litvinov (1876–1951) was a Russian-Jewish revolutionary and prominent Soviet diplomat. He participated in the Russian Revolution. From 1930-1939, he served as the Soviet Union's Foreign Commissar. For a time, he attempted to fulfill a foreign policy built on opposition to Nazi Germany. By 1938, however, it was clear that neither Britain nor France were willing to stand against Germany, and so Soviet leader Joseph Stalin directed a policy of rapproachment with Germany. Litvinov was removed from office, although he did continue in diplomacy, acting as Soviet Ambassador to the United States from 1941 to 1943.

Maxim Litvinov in The War That Came Early
As Foreign Commissar, Maxim Litivinov was frequently called upon to condemn the enemies of the Soviet Union after war broke out in 1938 between the USSR and Germany. Later, the list of enemies expanded to include Poland and Japan. As the USSR had grudges with both, most of Litvinov's public statements harkened back to past Russian defeats and promises that the USSR would not be defeated.