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Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939

Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939. ( Moscow-Berlin Non-Aggression Treaty – Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). BACKGROUND. Stalin had feared German threats to the USSR, since Hitler got to power in 1933 Hitler had stated that he wanted Soviet land for Lebensraum (Mein Kampf)

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Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939

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  1. Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 (Moscow-Berlin Non-Aggression Treaty – Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)

  2. BACKGROUND • Stalin had feared German threats to the USSR, since Hitler got to power in 1933 • Hitler had stated that he wanted Soviet land for Lebensraum (Mein Kampf) • Stalin tried, but failed to make alliances with UK+France • 1934 USSR joined the League - might offer protections against German aggression.

  3. Warning signs for Stalin • He saw failure of collective security over Abyssinia (UK+France responsible) • He saw UK+France persuading League members not to intervene in the Spanish Civil War • He saw German rearmament being allowed – Britain even signing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement

  4. Britain: Some wanted a strong Germany to prevent a spread of Communism which they saw as a bigger threat than Hitler Some felt the TofV had been too harsh so Hitler’s early demands seemed reasonable Sea defences – felt less under threat Empire concerns France: Signed a pact with USSR in 1935 Stalin did not trust France to keep to it- especially after Rhineland Britain and France

  5. The Munich Agreement • Made Stalin even more wary and angry • He was not consulted, even though USSR was one of Czechoslovakia’s allies • He deduced that UK+France were unable to stop Hitler OR that they were not opposed to Nazi expansion into Eastern Europe and the USSR

  6. 1939 - Spring • Stalin was still prepared to talk to UK+France about an alliance. They met in March 1939 • Chamberlain was reluctant to commit Britain • Stalin believed that UK+France made things worse by guaranteeing to defend Poland if it were attacked • Chamberlain saw the guarantee as a warning to Hitler • Stalin saw it as support for a potential enemy.

  7. 1939 - Summer • Negotiations continued between USSR and UK+France during spring and summer • Stalin was also visited by Nazi foreign minister Ribbentrop

  8. 1939- August • On 24 August 1939 Stalin signed a pact with Germany – a non-aggression treaty • The world was stunned - two sworn enemies promised not to attack each other. • Secretly, they also agreed to divide Poland between them (Poland had been re-created after WWI, from German, Austrian and Russian land; it had also taken land from Russia in 1921)

  9. Why did Stalin sign the pact? • He was unconvinced that UK+France would be strong, reliable allies against Hitler • He wanted large parts of eastern Poland, including land lost by the 1921 Treaty of Riga) • He believed that Hitler would invade USSR at some time – this would buy USSR time to build up forces.

  10. Why did Hitler sign the pact? • He wanted large parts of western Poland, including West Prussia, taken in the TofV • He was worried by UK+France’s promise to support Poland. If they abandoned appeasement and Stalin tried to stop him, he would face war on two fronts • It might lull Stalin into a false sense of security, making a later invasion of USSR easier.

  11. RESULTS • The Pact meant that Hitler could invade Poland without fear of Soviet interference. • It was a short-term cause of WWII – it was why it started when it did • September 1st 1939, German troops invaded Poland. UK+France issued an ultimatum, which was ignored • September 3rd UK+France declared war on Germany. Appeasement was over.

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