This Day in History: 23 August 2020
23 August 1939
81 years ago, today, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. This shocked the world, given the countries' contrasting ideologies. Despite appearances of the pact, both dictators were playing to their own political needs. After Nazi Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia, Britain had to decide to what extent they would intervene with Hitler's presumed German expansion. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made it clear that if Poland was threatened, Britain would be obliged to aid them. The only power large enough to stop Hitler that Britain could use as an ally were the Soviet Union, but Stalin was less interested. Poland's leaders were also worried about the prospect of the Soviets becoming their guardians, as to them, it was still an occupation by a monstrous regime.
Hitler knew that Britain would never face him alone, so he decided to swallow his fear of communism and become friendly with Stalin. Both Stalin and Hitler were suspicious of the other, but Hitler knew that he had to be quick to invade Poland. The two agreed to partition Poland, and the pact was signed by each nation's foreign minister, giving the agreement the name of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Supporters of bolshevism around the world were outraged that Stalin would enter into any kind of alliance with the fascist dictator. However, once Poland became German-occupied territory, the union fell apart. The pact made sure that any hope the Poles might have had of a Soviet counter-response would never become reality.
Want to find out more about the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact? Click here for more information, or here for a video with more about the German occupation of Poland.
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