H ITLER -S TALIN P ACT A UGUST 24, 1939 By: Chandler Coldsmith and Felicia Orendorff

P ARTIES I NVOLVED : Nazi Germany and Soviet Union Negotiators of the pact: Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop were representing their country as negotiators. Hitler-Stalin pact is also known as the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact.

P REVIOUS R ELATIONSHIP : Germany is Fascist and Soviet Union is Communist, so they are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The Nazi’s felt that it should be up to the people to defend themselves. They like a small government. The Soviet’s felt that the government should control every aspect of their citizen’s life. This caused conflict between the nation’s leaders. Everyone assumed that these countries were natural enemies and that they would eventually go to war.

E XPECTATIONS OF THE T REATY : This pact stated that Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union would not go to war or invade each other’s country. The countries also agreed secretly that they would divide Poland. Negotiations started in May of 1939 The treaty was signed on August 24, 1939 by the country’s representatives.

W HY THE P ACT E NDED : The pact remained in effect until June 22, The pact ended because of Operation Barbarossa Hitler warned Stalin that he was going to invade the Soviet Union, but Stalin did not believe him and didn’t take any defensive actions. Early morning on June 22, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union breaking the Hitler-Stalin Pact.