Why did Nazi Germany signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet union?
Nazi Germany signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, for strategic and political reasons. Here are a few main factors that led to the signing of this pact:
1. Geopolitical considerations: Adolf Hitler sought to avoid a two-front war, as experienced by Germany during World War I. By neutralizing the Soviet Union, he aimed to have a secure eastern border while focusing on his plans of territorial expansion in Western Europe.
2. Tactical advantage: The pact provided Germany with a free hand to invade Poland in September 1939, without fearing Soviet intervention. It allowed Hitler to execute his plans of expanding German influence in Eastern Europe without immediate opposition from the Soviet Union.
3. Gaining Soviet resources: The pact gave Germany access to Soviet resources, such as oil and raw materials, which were crucial for the German war machine. The Nazi regime needed resources to support its military operations and industrial production, and this pact provided an opportunity for such gains.
4. Buying time: The pact allowed Hitler to buy time, as he did not want a war on the eastern front until he was better prepared. It provided him with an opportunity to focus on the western campaign, which culminated in the conquest of France in 1940.
5. Political division of Eastern Europe: Secret protocols within the pact, known as the "Spheres of Influence," divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet zones. This allowed both countries to expand their influence and establish their dominance over various territories.
It is important to note that the pact was not intended to create a long-lasting alliance or ideological affinity between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It was merely a tactical move that served the immediate interests of both parties until Hitler eventually broke the agreement and launched Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union in June 1941.