Why did Nazi Germany sign a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union
The non-aggression pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. This pact surprised many, as Germany and the Soviet Union had been ideological enemies, with Germany being a fascist state and the Soviet Union being a communist country.
The main reason for the signing of the pact was for both countries to avoid a two-front war. Germany wanted to avoid a war on two fronts, as it had experienced during World War I, and sought to secure its eastern border before launching its planned invasion of Poland. By signing the pact with the Soviet Union, Germany ensured that it would not have to simultaneously fight a war on its eastern front while also waging war in Western Europe.
For the Soviet Union, signing the pact bought time for the country to prepare for a potential conflict with Germany. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin also saw an opportunity to expand Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and gain territorial concessions from Poland.
Overall, the non-aggression pact served the immediate strategic interests of both Germany and the Soviet Union at the time, but it ultimately led to the partition of Poland and the start of World War II.