Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact

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Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact

• 23rd August 1939

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• Also known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
• Also known as the Russo-German Non-aggression
  Pact
• Both the Soviets and the Germans agreed - not to
  fight each other
• - not to join any alliances against each
• other
• - not to support anyone who attacked the
• other.

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There were, however, SECRET terms included in the
pact!

• Eastern Europe was divided into spheres of
  influence ie areas where either the Soviet Union
  or Germany would expect to dominate countries
  they would not actually take over as such.
• Poland was to be divided up in any future war,
  with Germany taking the west including, of
  course, the hated Polish Corridor, with the USSR
  taking the east.

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Friends or Enemies?
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Why did the Nazis agree to the Pact?

• Hitler wanted to attack Poland without worrying
  about Soviet intervention.
• The German armed forces were still not strong
  enough to tackle the loathed Russians in battle.
  Hitler was keen to delay an anti-Soviet campaign
  for the time being.
• Without Soviet support to help the British and
  French effort, Hitler was sure that they would
  not keep their promise to defend Poland.

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Why did the Soviets agree to the Pact?

• Britain, France and the Soviet Union had been in
  negotiations over the summer of 1939, but they
  had made little progress, partly because most
  British politicians feared communism and
  distrusted Stalin. Britain also believed that the
  Soviet army was divided and weak because of
  internal political rivalry and plotting. Stalin,
  therefore, believed that the Soviet Union would
  have to protect itself against the Nazis, as
  Britain and France would do nothing to help them.
• Russia had had to give up part of Poland after
  World War One. Here was a way of getting it back
  without any need to fight for it!
• The Soviet military simply werent ready to fight.

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Impact and Consequences of the Pact.

• Britain and France were stunned, as was much of
  the world, as the hatred between the Soviets and
  the Nazis was well-known.
• Britain agreed a formal military alliance with
  Poland on 25th August, 1939, even though it would
  be difficult to support Poland effectively
  without Soviet help.
• Hitler ordered invasion of Poland to be ready for
  September 1st, as the Poles had refused to
  negotiate any further over Danzig, so a Munich
  style solution was not going to take place. War
  seemed inevitable.