Why did Nazi Germany sign a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union? (1 point)
A.to further spread socialist ideas
B. to benefit both of their economies
C. to split up Poland
D.to go to war against Britain and France
C. to split up Poland
The correct answer is C. to split up Poland.
The correct answer is C) to split up Poland.
To understand why Nazi Germany signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union, it is important to look at the historical context. Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, sought to expand its territory and influence in Europe. Hitler envisioned establishing a greater German empire, which included regaining territories lost after World War I.
One of Hitler's primary goals was to reclaim the territories in Eastern Europe that had been taken from Germany and given to Poland under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. However, the Soviet Union also had territorial ambitions in Eastern Europe and had its own interests in Poland.
By signing the nonaggression pact, officially known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agreed not to attack each other and to remain neutral if the other party got involved in a conflict. This pact allowed Germany to focus its military efforts on the Western front while ensuring that it would not face a two-front war with the Soviet Union.
Additionally, the pact included a secret protocol that outlined the spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. As a result, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to divide the territories of Eastern Europe, including Poland, between themselves. This division led to the occupation and partitioning of Poland, with Germany taking control over the western parts while the Soviet Union annexed eastern territories.
In summary, Nazi Germany signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union to secure its eastern flank, avoid a two-front war, and divide Poland to fulfill their respective territorial ambitions.