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In 1939, the Soviet Union was something of a ‘rogue’ state.<ref>Bendersky, Joseph, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118294785/ref=as_li_tl?ie=BackgroundUTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118294785&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ef7d32545f1ecdddb1c073906b750f1b A History of Germany: 1919–1945]'' (Rowman & Littlefield, London, 2000), p. 78.</ref> It had little or no relations with the western power, who suspected Moscow of trying to spread Communism throughout the world. Despite being ideological rivals, Germany, and the Soviet Union began secret negotiations in 1939. The situation in Europe was tense and many expected another general European war. They were conducted in secret and were overseen by the foreign ministers of the respective countries. In 1939, the Pact was announced by the foreign ministers of Germany (Ribbentrop) and of the Soviet Union (Molotov). The Ribbentrop- Molotov pact, named after the negotiators, as it came to be known, was composed of two parts, a public agreement, and secret protocols.<ref>Bendersky, p. 56.</ref> Publicly, the pact stated that Germany and the Soviet Union would not engage in any aggressive actions towards each other. The parties to the agreement stated that they would not go to war with each other.[[File:Molotov.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Molotove greeting a German diplomat (September, 1939).]]Much of the Pact was secret. The reasons for this was that it allowed both Hitler and Stalin’s regime to further their national and strategic interests.<ref>Moorhouse, Roger. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465030750/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0465030750&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=08750b91a33dc7c11ca385a6d821b1cb The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939–1941]''. (The Bodley Head. London, 2014), p. 78</ref> In fact, many of the protocols were denied by the Soviets until 1989 and the fall of the Berlin War. The secret protocols involved dividing up eastern Europe into separate spheres of influence. Poland was to be divided between Germany and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was allowed to take control of the Baltic States and Bessarabia (now Moldovia). More importantly for the Soviet Union was the fact that Stalin did not want a war and some have speculated that he wanted Hitler and the Western Allies to fight each other and weaken themselves until their states were ripe for a Communist takeover.<ref>Bendersky, p. 66</ref>. Another possible reason for Stalin signing the Pact with his ideological enemy was that he feared an attack from Japan in the East.

In 1939====Invasion of Poland====The agreement between Hitler and Stalin meant that the German state was free to pursue its interests in Poland. Hitler wanted ‘living space’ in the east, to enable the German nation to grow and expand and to fullfill the destiny of the Soviet Union ‘master race’. Hitler was something intent on wiping out Poland. There were tensions between Warsaw and Berlin over the city of Danzig and areas in Poland where German speakers were a ‘rogue’ statemajority.<ref>Bendersky, Joseph, ''A History of Nazi Germany: 1919–1945'' (Rowman & Littlefield, London, 2000)Moorhouse, p. 78.178</ref>Hitler used these tensions as a pretext to invade Poland. It had little or no relations with the western power, who suspected Moscow of trying He wanted to spread Communism throughout conquer the world. Despite being ideological rivals, Nazi Germany, country and remove it from the Soviet Union began secret negotiations in 1939map of Europe. The situation in Europe was tense and many expected another general European war. They were conducted in secret and were overseen by the foreign ministers of the respective countriesMolotov-Rippentrop Agreement, allowed Hitler to attack Poland because he knew that Stalin would not intervene to stop his plans. In September 1939, Hitler’s forces invaded Poland and later, when the Pact was announced by Poles were on the foreign ministers verge of Germany (Ribbentrop) and of the Soviet Union (Molotov). The Ribbentrop- Molotov pactdefeat, named after the negotiators, as it came to be known, was composed of two parts, a public agreement, and secret protocolsSoviets invaded eastern Poland.<ref>BenderskyDavies, N. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231043260/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231043260&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1be37f6e09199031a2b3e044956a88c0 God's Playground]'' (Oxford University Press. Oxford, 1986, p. 56187), p.213</ref> PubliclyThe German invasion of Poland led to the western allies, the pact stated that Nazi France, and Britain declaring war on Germany and the Soviet Union would not engage in any aggressive actions towards each other. The parties to the agreement stated that they would not go to war with each otherstart of WW II.

Much of ====Strategic Implications====The Pact delivered enormous strategic advantages to the Pact was secretGermans. The reasons for this was that it Pact allowed both Hitler them to concentrate their attacks on the western allies. They did not have to divide their forces and fight a war on the western and Stalin’s regime the eastern front. In 1914, Germany had been forced to further their national divided its forces and this slowed down its advance in the west and strategic interestspossibly cost them a swift victory.<ref>MoorhouseThis was not the case in 1939, Rogerthe German war machine could concentrate on its western rivals. ''The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact Freed from any threat from the east, by the agreement with Stalin, 1939–1941''. (The Bodley Headthe German army launched a Blitzkrieg on western Europe. LondonSoon Norway, 2014)Denmark, p. 78</ref> In factthe Netherland, many of the protocols were denied by the Soviets until 1989 Belgium and France fell to the fall of Nazis. It is highly unlikely that this would have been possible if the Berlin War. The secret protocols involved dividing up eastern Europe into separate spheres of influence. Poland was German’s had been forced to be divided between Germany and fight a war against the Soviet Union. The Pact neutralized the Soviet Union was threat from the east. The Ribbentrop- Molotov pact had allowed Hitler to take control become the master of the Baltic States Europe and Bessarabia (now Moldovia)Stalin must have begun to wonder if he had not made a strategic mistake. More importantly for However, he continued to hold to the Soviet Union was terms of the fact that Stalin did not want Pact, as he feared a war and some have speculated that he wanted Hitler and with the Western Allies to fight each other and weaken themselves until their states were ripe for a Communist takeoverGerman War Machine.<ref>BenderskyTaylor, AJP. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684829479/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0684829479&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a360376fd1f8c5f43d87219e7636bbc4 The Origins of the Second World War]'' (London: Simon & Schuster. 1961), p. 66111</ref>. Another possible reason for Stalin signing the Pact with his ideological enemy was that he feared an attack from Japan in the East.

[[File:Molotov====The end of the Pact====Hitler had always made clear that he considered the Soviets as his greatest enemy.jpg|thumbnail|175px|Molotove greeting However, Stalin was lulled by the Pact, into believing that Hitler would never attack his territories.<ref> Taylor, p. 134</ref> There had been many indicators that the Germans were preparing for an invasion of the Soviet Union. The German forces had been building up in Western Poland and elsewhere. Stalin refused to believe that evidence that his desperate Generals presented him with. He even refused to order a German diplomat (Septembergeneral mobilization of the Soviet Divisions. In fact, 1939)Stalin even permitted the export of important raw materials to Germany right up to the outbreak of hostilities.]]

==Invasion Germany ended the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact June 1941 by launching a massive invasion of Poland==Soviet territory. Stalin, when he heard that the Germans, had invaded and that the pact was no more and irrelevant went into a state of shock. He apparently went into hiding for several days, during which time the Soviet Union was left leaderless. Stalin had apparently gained very much for the pact however, he had really been duped by Hitler. The Pact had served Hitler very well it had allowed him to attack first the west and defeat the British and French. When he was completed he was able to invade the Soviet Union.<ref> Davies, p. 77</ref>

====Conclusion====The agreement between Hitler and Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was initially seen as a triumph for Stalin meant that the Nazi state . He was free able to pursue its interests in Poland. Hitler wanted ‘living space’ in the east, to enable the German nation to grow and expand and to fulfil the destiny secure large swaths of territory that had once been part of the ‘master race’old Tsarist Empire. Hitler was intent on wiping out PolandIt also secured his western borders against attack. There were tensions between Warsaw and Berlin over Stalin Pact allowed the city of Danzig Germans to dominate Europe and areas in Poland where German speakers then allowed them when they were a majority.<ref>Moorhouse,p. 178</ref> Hitler used these tensions as a pretext strong enough to invade Poland. He wanted to conquer attack the country and remove it from Soviet Union, with the map real possibility of Europesuccess. The Molotov-Rippentrop AgreementUltimately, allowed Hitler to attack Poland because he knew that Stalin would not intervene to stop his plans. In September 1939, Hitler’s forces invaded Poland and later, when the Poles were on Pact exposed the verge USSR and nearly led to their defeat of defeat, the Soviets invaded eastern PolandSoviet Union.<ref>Davies, N. ''God's Playground''(Oxford University Press. Oxford, 1986, p. 187), p. 213</ref>. The Nazi invasion of Poland led If the Soviet Union had collapsed it is difficult to envision the western allies, France, and Britain declaring war on Allies defeating Germany and the start of WW II.

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles==Strategic Implications== The Pact delivered enormous strategic advantages to the Germans. The Pact allowed them to concentrate their attacks on the western allies. They *[[How did not have Joseph Stalin react to divide their forces and fight a war on the western and the eastern front. In 1914, Germany had been forced to divided its forces and this slowed down its advance in the west and possibly cost them a swift victory. This was not the case in 1939, the German war machine could concentrate on its western rivals. Freed from any threat from the east, by the agreement with Stalin, invasion during WWII?]]*[[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?]]*[[How Did the German army launched a Military Develop Blitzkrieg on western Europe. Soon Norway, Denmark, the Netherland, Belgium and France fell to the Nazis. It is highly unlikely that this would have been possible if the German’s had been forced to fight a war against the Soviet Union. The Pact neutralized the Soviet threat from the east. The Ribbentrop- Molotov pact had allowed Hitler to become the master of Europe and Stalin must have begun to wonder if he had not made a strategic mistake. However, he continued to hold to the terms ?]]*[[Causes of the Pact, as he feared a war with the German War Machine.<ref>Taylor, AJP. ''The Origins of the Second World War'' (London: Simon & Schuster. 1961), p. 111</ref> II Top Ten Booklist]]*[[File:Stalin and Ribbentrop.jpg|thumbnail|Stalin greeting German Foreign Minister Rippentrob.Why was France defeated in 1940?]] ==The end of the Pact== Hitler had always made clear that he considered the Soviets as his greatest enemy. However, Stalin was lulled by the Pact, into believing that Hitler would never attack his territories.<ref> Taylor, p. 134</ref> There had been many indicators that the Nazis were preparing for an invasion of the Soviet Union. The German forces had been building up in Western Poland and elsewhere. Stalin refused to believe that evidence that his desperate Generals presented him with. He even refused to order a general mobilization of the Soviet Divisions. In fact, Stalin even permitted the export of important raw materials to Nazi *[[Why did Germany right up to lose the outbreak Battle of hostilities.Stalingrad?]] Nazi Germany ended the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact June 1941 by launching a massive invasion of Soviet territory. Stalin, when he heard that the Germans, had invaded and that the pact was no more and irrelevant went into a state of shock. He apparently went into hiding for several days, during which time the Soviet Union was left leaderless. Stalin had apparently gained very much for the pact however, he had really been duped by Hitler. The Pact had served Hitler very well it had allowed him to attack first the west and defeat the British and French. When he was completed he was able to invade the Soviet Union.<ref> Davies, p. 77</refdiv>. ==Conclusion==The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was apparently a triumph for Stalin. He was able to secure large swaths of territory that had once been part of the old Tsarist Empire. It also secured his western borders against attack. Stalin Pact allowed the Germans to dominate Europe and then allowed them when they were strong enough to attack the Soviet Union, with the real possibility of success. The Pact was in fact, his greatest mistake and one that nearly led to the defeat of the Soviet Union and this would have led to the victory for the Nazis in Europe.References===References=