What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Why did it end?

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, officially known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was a non-aggression pact signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939. It shocked the world, as the two countries were ideologically opposed. The pact contained a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, with Germany claiming western Poland and the Soviet Union claiming eastern Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bessarabia (part of Romania).<br /><br />**Reasons for the Pact:**<br /><br />* **For Germany:** The pact neutralized the threat of a two-front war, allowing Hitler to invade Poland without immediate Soviet intervention. It also secured vital resources from the Soviet Union.<br />* **For the Soviet Union:** Stalin gained time to rebuild his military after the purges of the 1930s. He also believed the pact would allow him to expand Soviet territory and create a buffer zone against a potential German attack. Stalin likely distrusted the Western powers (Britain and France) and felt they were not serious about containing Hitler. He saw the pact as a way to protect Soviet interests while the capitalist powers fought amongst themselves.<br /><br />**End of the Pact:**<br /><br />The pact ended on June 22, 1941, when Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. Hitler's reasons for breaking the pact were multifaceted:<br /><br />* **Ideological Drive:** Hitler's ultimate goal was the conquest of "Lebensraum" (living space) in the East, which included vast territories of the Soviet Union. He saw the Slavic people as racially inferior and intended to enslave or exterminate them.<br />* **Resources:** The Soviet Union possessed vast natural resources, including oil and grain, which were crucial for sustaining a long war.<br />* **Strategic Concerns:** Hitler believed that defeating the Soviet Union would cripple Great Britain's last major ally and pave the way for German domination of Europe. He underestimated the Soviet Union's resilience and the vastness of its territory.<br /><br />The invasion of the Soviet Union marked a turning point in World War II. The pact's collapse brought the Soviet Union into the Allied camp, fundamentally altering the balance of power and ultimately contributing to Germany's defeat.<br />