Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
Background
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, also known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact, was a non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that was signed on August 23, 1939. The pact was named after the foreign ministers of the two countries, Vyacheslav Molotov of the Soviet Union and Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany.
Terms of the Pact
The pact stipulated that Germany and the Soviet Union would not engage in military action against each other for the next ten years. It also included secret protocols that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two powers. The secret protocols were denied by the Soviet Union until 1989 when they were finally acknowledged and condemned.
Impact on World War II
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact had a significant impact on the course of World War II. It allowed Germany to start the war without fear of a two-front conflict, as it guaranteed Soviet neutrality during the German invasion of Poland. The pact also influenced the Soviet Union's relations with the Western Allies and its decision to sign a neutrality pact with Japan in 1941.
Violation and Dissolution
Despite the terms of the pact, it was violated by Germany when it launched an invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, known as Operation Barbarossa. This marked the end of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and led to the Soviet Union joining the Allies in World War II.
Aftermath and Legacy
In the aftermath of World War II, the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was widely condemned. It was seen as a symbol of the cynical realpolitik that had led to the war and was used as evidence of Soviet complicity in the war's outbreak. The pact has continued to be a contentious issue in historical debates and in relations between Russia and other Eastern European countries.