Transcript Nazi - ModernHistory2010

Nazi – Soviet
Non-Aggression Pact
Growth of European Tensions
Background
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One of the most surprising diplomatic
events in history as the Germans and the
Russians hated and feared one another.
In August 1939, the German Foreign
Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, flew to
Moscow to meet with Soviet Foreign
Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and to sign a
Non-Aggression Pact.
Nazi foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (left), Soviet leader
Joseph Stalin (centre), and Soviet foreign minister Viacheslav Molotov
(right) at the signing of the nonaggression pact between Germany and
the Soviet Union. Moscow, Soviet Union, August 1939.
Stalin’s Motives
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Aimed to avoid war or delay the war in order to have
time to strengthen his position. Overly states: ‘Russia’s
chief concern was still to avoid involvement in any war,
at any costs. Soviet foreign policy aimed to play one
power off against another in the hope of escaping the
impending conflict. (Overy, R. J., The Origins of the
Second World War, pg 59)
He distrusted Britain and France – the purpose of the
Munich Agreement had been to push Hitler eastward.
A deal with Hitler over Poland would enable Germany to
fight Britain and France in the west giving Russia enough
time to prepare its own defences.
Hitler’s Motives
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Hitler had known goals of expanding
eastward and destroying communism in
order to achieve lebensraum.
It allowed Hitler to invade Poland free
from he threat of Soviet intervention,
allowing for a quick victory.
Germany would be able to avoid a twofront war and Hitler could quickly defeat
Britain and France.
Main Terms
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Germany and the Soviet Union would not
engage in hostilities for 10 years.
If either country became involved in a conflict
with a 3rd party, the other country would remain
neutral (giving Hitler the green light to invade
Poland.)
The pact would start immediately.
The pact also contained Secret Protocols which
became known after 1945. That Germany would
take western Poland and Lithuania and the
Soviet Union would take eastern Poland, Estonia,
Latvia and Bessarabia (in Romania).
Result
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Within a week of the Pact, Germany invaded
Poland.
Two days later on 3rd of September 1939, Britain
and France declared war on Germany. (The
Anglo-Polish Common Defence Act had been
signed two days after the Nazi-Soviet NonAggression Pact.)
Soviet Union invaded Poland on the 17th of
September.
Poland surrendered on September 26th.
Past HSC Questions
Growth in European Tensions
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2006 – Evaluate the views that the dictators
Hitler and Mussolini were primarily responsible
for the tensions that lead to the outbreak of war
in Europe in 1939.
2008 – Assess the significance of the Nazi-Soviet
Non-Aggression Pact to the outbreak of war in
1939.
2009 – To what extent was the policy of
appeasement responsible for the outbreak of
war in Europe in 1939.