Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - the name of the interstate agreement on non-aggression between the two powerful states - the USSR and Germany.The term of the contract was estimated at 10 years.This agreement was signed in Moscow on the night of the twenty-third to twenty-fourth in August 1939 Minister of Germany, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and the Head of the Council of People's Commissars, the Commissioner of the Soviet Union, Vyacheslav Molotov in the presence of the German Ambassador Werner von der Schulenburg, and member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b), member of the Executive Committee of Joseph Stalin.From here it is possible and explain the title of the document, which many have called the "Ribbentrop-Molotov."
pact guaranteed Soviet neutrality in the conflict of the Third Reich with Poland and the West, and also provides a return to the Soviet Union lost their territories during the First World War.This agreement was based on the Treaty of Berlin of 1926 and the Treaty of Rapallo in 1922.
At the non-aggression pact was signed a secret protocol that establishes the boundaries of the mutual interests of the two countries in Eastern Europe and the division of Poland between them in the German attack on this country.The existence of such a secret annex to the pact a long time denied by the government of the Soviet Union.And only in the late eighties of the last century this was indeed recognized by the protocol.
Before the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed after all, Germany is already included in the Reich territory of Bohemia and Moravia.And to ensure international security and the fight against the German invasion were talks between the USSR, Britain and France.The consequence of the adoption of the draft treaty on mutual assistance of the second in August 1939.However, the document did not become a contract due to lack of interest of the countries participating in the negotiations.For example, the Soviet Union with the adoption of the draft required to ensure passage of their armies through Poland and Romania in the event of an attack on them German troops.However, neither Poland nor Romania it never agreed.
Therefore, Molotov and Stalin decided to sign with the German non-aggression agreement, which was called "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact."Both the Soviet Union and Germany have different goals at the same time.Hitler, is actively preparing for the attack on the territory of Poland, wanted to avoid military conflict with the Soviet Union and believed that Moscow, wanting to regain their former land, will perform clauses.Stalin, in turn, considered Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact excellent opportunity to prepare for imminent military action, while avoiding potential unnecessary military conflicts.
According to the adopted agreement, the two sides committed themselves to peacefully solve all disagreements, and in any case not to support a country that is an attack on one of the parties to the agreement.But according to the secret protocol, Germany attacking Poland, he had no right to move forward for the "Curzon Line".Part of Poland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Bessarabia remained in the grip of the Soviet Union.
After the ratification of the treaty by the Soviet Union on September 1, German troops entered the territory of Poland.Having a little leeway to provide assistance to those Ukrainians and Belarusians who threatened to attack the German troops, the Soviet troops entered the Polish territory only seventeenth September 1939 is automatically entered into World War II.Poland ceased to exist as a state.As a result, Germany and the USSR got a common border.And the opportunity to attack one country to another, in spite of the signed agreement, has become a matter of time.
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was invalid twenty-second of June 41, when the German army invaded the Soviet Union.
