Ryti-Ribbentrop Agreement

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, also known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact or the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, was a non-aggression agreement signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939. The pact was named after the foreign ministers who signed it: Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany and Vyacheslav Molotov of the Soviet Union.

The agreement was a surprising development, given that the two countries had been bitter enemies since the Russian Revolution. However, both sides saw advantages in signing the pact. Germany was preparing for war and did not want to fight a two-front war against both France and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was concerned about a possible attack by Germany and wanted to buy time to prepare for war.

The pact also included a secret protocol, which divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between Germany and the Soviet Union. Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Bessarabia (part of Romania) were assigned to the Soviet sphere, while Lithuania was divided between the two countries. This division of territory allowed the Soviet Union to expand its borders and regain some of the territories it lost during World War I.

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was seen as a betrayal by many in Europe, particularly by Poland, which had been promised support by both France and Britain in the event of a German invasion. On September 1, 1939, just a week after the pact was signed, Germany invaded Poland, triggering the start of World War II.

The pact remained in effect until June 1941, when Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. The attack caught the Soviet Union off guard and resulted in the deaths of millions of people on both sides.

In conclusion, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a controversial and short-lived agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It allowed both countries to achieve their respective goals, but ultimately led to the start of World War II. Despite its brevity, the pact had a profound impact on European history, and its legacy is still felt today.