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The Importance of the Nazi–Soviet Pact

Exam code: 2147
Written by: Ashika|Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll|Updated 2 July 2026

The USSR's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact

The USSR's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • The Versailles Settlement created the Polish Corridor

    • This gave Poland access to the sea

    • It cut Germany’s territory into two separate areas

  • After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, it was clear that Hitler would attempt to gain the Polish Corridor for Germany

  • Hitler and Stalin (the leader of the USSR) were enemies because:

    • They believed in opposite ideologies

      • Hitler was Fascist. This is a far right-wing belief

      • Stalin was Communist. This is a far left-wing belief

    • They had different aims for Europe

      • Hitler wanted Germany to dominate Europe

      • Stalin wanted to gain land to implement communism

    • They had fought on opposite sides in the Spanish Civil War

      • Hitler had supported General Franco and the right-wing rebels

      • Stalin had sent equipment to the left-wing government

  • On 23rd August 1939, Germany and the USSR formed the Nazi-Soviet Pact

    • It is also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

    • The signing of the pact shocked the world

Why Did Stalin Sign the Pact?

Title: Stalin’s Aims for the Nazi–Soviet Pact Central box (red): Stalin’s aims for the Nazi–Soviet Pact Surrounding aims (in yellow): To annoy the West To appear strong Delay war Gain land Supporting reasons (in grey): The USSR was excluded from the Munich Conference He distrusted the Western powers The policy of appeasement made the Western powers look weaker than Hitler A war between Britain, France and Germany would give Stalin time to prepare for war Poland had been taken from Russia in Treaty of Brest–Litovsk
A concept map showing what Stalin hoped to achieve from the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Germany's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Germany's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • Hitler sent a telegram to Stalin on 20th August asking for the pact. This was surprising because:

    • The USSR had a large Jewish population

      • It was a common, but incorrect, belief that many Soviet communists were  Jewish

    • Hitler considered the Slavs, people who lived in Eastern Europe, as subhuman

    • Taking the USSR’s territory was necessary to fulfil Hitler’s foreign policy aim of Lebensraum

Why Did Hitler Sign the Pact?

Title: Hitler’s Aims for the Nazi–Soviet Pact Central box (red): Hitler’s aims for the Nazi–Soviet Pact Key Aims (in yellow): Avoid upsetting the USSR Stop an alliance against him Avoid a two-front war Gain land Supporting Context (in grey): Opposition from the USSR could slow down invasion of Poland Stalin had a ruthless reputation Britain and France had attempted to form an alliance with the USSR against Hitler Britain and France could declare war over Poland. Hitler did not want to split his troops to fight the USSR as well Hitler wanted the return of the Polish Corridor
A concept map showing what Hitler hoped to achieve from the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Date

Terms

Impacts

August 1939

  • A non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR for 10 years

  • The secret partitioning of Polish territory. Stalin to gain control of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland. Germany to gain half of Poland and the city of Danzig

  • The public agreement shocked the world, especially Britain and France

  • Germany invaded Poland nine days after the signing of the pact

Map Title: Nazi–Soviet Pact: Division of Poland and Eastern Europe Key Features: Dark grey: Nazi Germany (west of Poland) Red: Soviet Union (east of Poland and the Baltic states) Poland: In the centre, shown in both grey and red, split between Nazi Germany and the USSR East Prussia: A small German area separated from the rest of Germany Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania): All highlighted in red, part of the USSR’s influence Other labelled countries: To the west: Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France To the south: Slovakia, Hungary, Kingdom of Romania To the east: Belarus, Ukraine (part of the USSR) Key (bottom of map): Dark grey = Germany Red = The Soviet Union
A map showing the partition of Poland and the territory gains agreed in the Nazi-Soviet Pact
Two men in formal attire are shaking hands in front of a wooden panelled wall, exhibiting a formal, diplomatic greeting.
A picture of Joseph Stalin shaking hands with the German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop after signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact
Cartoon of a girl labelled "Poland" reacting in shock to a wolf labelled "Nazi Germany" in bed with a bear labelled "Soviet Russia", both under a quilt.
A cartoon in an American newspaper the day after the Nazi-Soviet Pact. It uses the story of Little Red Riding Hood to show the danger of the Nazi-Soviet Pact to Poland

Other Alliances - Anti-Comintern Pact

Other Alliances - Anti-Comintern Pact

  • By the time of signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact, Hitler had entered into other alliances that strengthened his position

    • In 1936, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact

Date

Terms

Impacts

November 1936

  • An agreement between Japan and Germany to help each other in the fight against communism

  • Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact in 1937

  • Japan, with its large military, was a powerful ally to Hitler

Other Alliances - The Pact of Steel

Other Alliances - The Pact of Steel

  • Germany and Italy entered into a formal alliance called the Pact of Steel in 1939

    • Its formal name is the Pact of Friendship and Alliance

    • The two countries had signed a friendship treaty in 1936 dubbed the Rome-Berlin Axis

Date

Terms

Impacts

May 1939

  • A military alliance that promised to help each other in times of war

  • To agree peace with another country, both Germany and Italy must agree to the terms

  • To work together in war planning and armament

  • Triggered the Tripartite Pact in 1940, uniting Japan, Italy and Germany

  • Made Italy a formal ally to Germany, increasing Hitler’s military strength in Europe

How Did Other Alliances Influence the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

  • Stalin became increasingly worried about the power of Fascism

    • Japan was an old enemy of Russia

      • Japan had beaten Russia in a war in 1904

      • Japanese-controlled Manchuria bordered the USSR

    • The Nazi-Soviet Pact would give Stalin temporary protection from Japan and Germany

  • The pact was doomed to fail

    • The Anti-Comintern Pact made it clear that Hitler did not support Communism

    • In 1941, Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet Pact by invading Russia in Operation Barbarossa

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