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Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

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description Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Overview

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a non-aggression treaty signed in Moscow on August 23, 1939, by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Named after the foreign ministers of the two countries, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vyacheslav Molotov, the pact pledged that neither nation would attack the other. The agreement also contained secret protocols that divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence, leading to the invasion and partition of Poland. The treaty remained in effect until Germany launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941.

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When and where was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed?

Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the pact in Moscow on August 23, 1939. It was named after German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov.

What was secret about the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A secret protocol divided much of Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence. It included plans affecting Poland and the Baltic states, even though the public agreement was presented as a non-aggression treaty.

How did the pact relate to the invasion of Poland?

Germany invaded Poland from the west on September 1, 1939, and the Soviet Union entered eastern Poland on September 17. The pact's secret arrangements helped enable the partition of Poland at the start of World War II.

How long did the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact last?

The agreement ended when Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, during Operation Barbarossa. Until then, Germany and the Soviet Union maintained the public non-aggression arrangement despite their opposing ideologies.

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