Why did Nazi Germany signed The non-aggressive Pact with the Soviet Union

Answer 1

Nazi Germany signed the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, on August 23, 1939, just days before the start of World War II.

There were several reasons why Nazi Germany signed this pact with the Soviet Union:

1. Strategic Avoidance: By signing the pact, Germany aimed to secure its eastern border with the Soviet Union, thereby avoiding a two-front war. This would allow Germany to focus on its planned invasion of Poland without the risk of a conflict with the USSR.

2. Time Gaining: Germany sought to buy time to prepare and launch its invasion of Poland. By avoiding a potential conflict with the Soviet Union, they could concentrate their forces on the western front against Poland.

3. Resource Access: Germany wanted to secure access to Soviet resources, especially oil, which was crucial for its military and industrial needs. The pact allowed Germany to trade for these resources and ensured they would not be interrupted by conflict.

4. Ideological Alignment: Although Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were ideologically opposed, both regimes were totalitarian and dictatorial. Hitler viewed communism as a temporary phase that would ultimately be eradicated by the Aryan race. Therefore, in the short term, Hitler saw an opportunity for collaboration to achieve their respective aims.

5. Dividing Eastern Europe: The pact included secret protocols that effectively divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence for Germany and the Soviet Union. It granted the USSR control over Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian territories, while Germany received a free hand in Poland.

It is important to note that both Germany and the Soviet Union saw the pact as a temporary arrangement to serve their immediate goals. The agreement was broken by Germany in June 1941 when they invaded the Soviet Union, leading to the famous German-Soviet conflict on the Eastern Front.