The Nazi-Soviet Pact (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Background: unlikely allies
In the years leading up to 1939, Hitler had been extremely vocal about his hatred of communism, while Stalin had grown increasingly suspicious of Hitler's intentions. These two leaders represented completely opposing ideologies, making their eventual alliance one of the most shocking diplomatic moves of the 20th century.
The alliance between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union was so unexpected that it stunned the international community. Two nations that had been ideological enemies suddenly became partners, fundamentally altering the European balance of power.
The situation changed dramatically in 1939 when both leaders realised they could benefit from working together, at least temporarily. This pragmatic approach would have enormous consequences for the outbreak of the Second World War.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
The Nazi-Soviet Pact was a non-aggression agreement signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. On the surface, it was simply a promise that neither country would attack the other. However, the pact contained secret clauses that were far more significant.
The most critical aspect of the pact was not what was made public, but what remained hidden. The secret protocols fundamentally changed the balance of power in Europe and directly enabled the invasion of Poland.
The most important secret element involved Poland. Both Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Polish territory between them if the opportunity arose. This was particularly significant because Poland had been recreated after the First World War using land taken from both the Russian Empire (later USSR) and Germany. Both nations wanted to reclaim what they saw as rightfully theirs.
After Hitler's occupation of Czechoslovakia, Poland became the next obvious target for his Lebensraum (living space) policy. However, Hitler knew that invading Poland would likely trigger Soviet intervention, so he needed to neutralise this threat first.
Benefits for Germany
The pact solved Germany's biggest strategic problem: the fear of fighting a war on two fronts. During the First World War, Germany had been forced to divide its forces between fighting Russia in the east and Britain and France in the west. This had significantly weakened the German army and contributed to their eventual defeat.
Germany's experience in World War I had shown the devastating effects of fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously. The German high command was determined to avoid repeating this strategic error at all costs.
Hitler was determined not to repeat this mistake. He knew that war with Britain and France was likely if he invaded Poland, so he desperately needed to take the USSR and its massive army out of the equation. The Nazi-Soviet Pact achieved exactly this, giving Hitler the security he needed to launch his invasion of Poland without worrying about Soviet intervention.
The pact also meant that Germany could focus its military resources on the western front, making the German army much more effective in any conflict with the Western Allies.
Benefits for the Soviet Union
Stalin had several compelling reasons for agreeing to the pact, despite his ideological opposition to fascism.
Territorial gains: Stalin could reclaim Polish territory that had belonged to the Russian Empire before 1918, without having to fight for it himself. Hitler would do the fighting, and Stalin would simply take his agreed share of the land.
Buying time: Stalin was well aware that Hitler would eventually turn against the USSR - he famously said he was "wise not to trust Hitler." The pact gave Stalin valuable time to prepare his military for the inevitable German invasion, which came in 1941.
Creating a buffer zone: By reclaiming territory in Poland, Stalin could create additional defensive space between Germany and the Soviet heartland. This would provide strategic depth if Hitler did attack later.
Avoiding isolation: Stalin realised that if war broke out, the powerful Soviet army would not be fighting alongside the Allies. This isolation meant he was essentially forced into the pact to protect Soviet interests.
Stalin's decision was fundamentally defensive in nature. Despite the aggressive appearance of the territorial gains, his primary motivation was preparing for what he saw as an inevitable conflict with Nazi Germany.
Why Stalin didn't trust Britain and France
Stalin's decision was heavily influenced by his complete lack of faith in Britain and France as reliable allies.
The Munich Agreement had shown Stalin that the Western powers were willing to appease Hitler by allowing him to take Czechoslovakia without consulting the USSR. Stalin had not been invited to the Munich Conference, despite the Soviet Union being a major European power.
Stalin's exclusion from the Munich Conference was a critical diplomatic blunder by Britain and France. This snub convinced Stalin that the Western powers did not view the Soviet Union as an equal partner and might even prefer to see Germany attack eastward.
This policy of appeasement convinced Stalin that Britain and France would not provide an effective barrier against German expansion. He believed they might even encourage Hitler to attack eastward towards the USSR, seeing this as a way to divert German aggression away from Western Europe.
Hitler also showed Stalin more respect than Western leaders had. He sent senior diplomats to negotiate with Stalin, treating him as an equal partner rather than trying to marginalise him as Britain and France had done.
Significance of the Nazi-Soviet Pact
The pact had enormous consequences for the outbreak of the Second World War:
Made invasion possible: Hitler now knew he could invade Poland without facing a two-front war. This knowledge directly enabled the German attack on September 1, 1939, which triggered the Second World War.
Broke down appeasement: After the breakdown of appeasement following the invasion of Czechoslovakia, Britain and France had promised to protect Poland. The pact made it clear that this promise would be tested, as Hitler no longer feared Soviet intervention.
The Nazi-Soviet Pact essentially guaranteed that any German invasion of Poland would lead to a major European war. Britain and France could no longer hope that Soviet resistance would deter Hitler's aggression.
Isolated the USSR: When war did break out, the powerful Soviet army was not available to help the Allies. This made the German position much stronger in the early years of the war.
Created inevitability: The pact made major European war seem inevitable. Britain began preparing for war immediately, knowing that Hitler now had the freedom to act aggressively.
Timeline of key events
- 1938: Munich Agreement - Czechoslovakia handed to Hitler without consulting USSR
- March 1939: Germany occupies rest of Czechoslovakia
- August 23, 1939: Nazi-Soviet Pact signed
- September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland
- September 3, 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany
- 1941: Germany invades USSR, breaking the pact
Key Points to Remember:
- The Nazi-Soviet Pact was signed on August 23, 1939, between two ideological enemies who found it convenient to work together temporarily
- The pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention, directly enabling the outbreak of the Second World War
- Stalin used the agreement to buy time to prepare for war, reclaim Polish territory, and create a defensive buffer zone
- Stalin's mistrust of Britain and France, particularly after the Munich Agreement, pushed him towards the pact with Hitler
- The agreement made war almost inevitable by giving Hitler the confidence to act aggressively against Poland, knowing he wouldn't face a two-front war