Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: History, Impact, and Controversy

The Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed on August 23, 1939, by the foreign ministers of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

The pact was a treaty of non-aggression between the two countries, meaning that they agreed not to attack or invade each other's territories. It also included a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, with Germany dominating the western part and the Soviet Union dominating the eastern part.

The pact was a significant turning point in the lead-up to World War II because it allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention. It also gave Stalin time to prepare for his own territorial expansion.

The pact lasted until 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, breaking the agreement and leading to the beginning of the Soviet-German War. The pact remains a controversial moment in history, as it allowed two ideologically opposed nations to temporarily align their interests and paved the way for the start of World War II.