The Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)

The Nazi-Soviet Pact was negotiated on 24th August 1939. It had two sections, one of which was public and one of which was secret

• Publically, Russia and Germany agreed to respect each other's territories, settle any disagreements through negotiations and increase trade as a sign of friendship
• Privately, the Pact divided Eastern Europe into two 'spheres of interest': Germany was to control Western Poland and Czechoslovakia, whilst Russia was free to pursue its own policies in Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

How did the Pact benefit Germany?

• It gave Hitler a free hand to invade Poland and provided Germany with vital raw materials from Russia, enabling Hitler to get around any Allied blockade

What happened next?

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