Capstone final draft

Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany
And the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact of 1939
Submitted by Andriana Zarate in Partial Completion of the Requirements for the
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History at the University of St. Thomas, Houston 13 May 2015

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Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany and the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact
of 1939
The Molotov Ribbentrop Pact, also known as The Nazi Soviet Non-aggression Pact
was a two-part agreement between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany that took place in
August of 1939.1 This pact included an economic agreement as well as a non-aggression
agreement. Economically, the Soviet Union was intended to provide food products as
well as raw materials to Germany in exchange for furnished products which included
machinery from Germany. The other portion, the non-aggression arrangement, stated
that the two countries were not to show any signs of aggression toward one another.
“Article I: Both high contracting parties obligate themselves to desist from any violence,
any aggressive action, any attack on each other in no manner lend its support with other
powers”2 This pact initially was intended to last for ten years; however it ultimately
lasted for only less than two. Soon after the pact was signed and finalized Germany
attacked and invaded Poland thus beginning World War Two. Russia did not counteract
the attack because according to the pact signed they were in agreement not to do so.
Also in accordance with the pact if Germany were to become involved with Poland,
Poland was to be split into two spheres of German and Russian influence. “Article II. In
the event of a territorial and political rearrangement of the areas belonging to the Polish
state, the spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall be bounded
1 Modern History Sourcebook: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939." Modern History Sourcebook:
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1939pact.html. (Accessed
October 10th 2014)
2 Modern History Sourcebook: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939

2
approximately by the line of the rivers Narev, Vistula and San.”3 Russia was quick to act
on this event and less than a month after Germany invaded Poland, so did Russia. War
would be declared on Germany and not Russia because this protocol was made secret to
the world and the Soviet claimed their occupancy in Poland was to keep after Germany.
Russia would ultimately loose its occupation in Poland when Germany broke treaty.
Later in 1941, less than two years following the initial invasion of Poland, Germany
invaded and attacked a near defenseless and tremendously unprepared Russia. Both
leaders agreed upon The Molotov Ribbentrop pact, however based on plans and actions
it can be determined that neither leader intended to abide by the agreement for long and
instead the pact was a substitute strategy intended for each leader to further obtain set
goals and geo political objectives.
Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are two leaders that were forever immortalized by
their crimes and atrocities. Stalin and Hitler were two of the most broadly known and
recognizable totalitarian leaders in Eurasia throughout the Second World War. Both
Stalin and Hitler were political geniuses although understandably, their wrongdoings
tend to greatly outweigh their positive accomplishments. The two were both skilled
propagandists and were both willing to do whatever they felt was needed to be done in
order to strengthen their country, no matter how unethical the costs. Hitler appeared to
have no remorse when he sent millions of Jews, gypsy’s and others deemed undesirable
to concentration camps, and Stalin seemed to feel not the least bit of anguish as he
eradicated millions of his own countrymen without skipping a beat. This equal level of
3 Modern History Sourcebook: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939

3
malevolence matched with intelligence led to one of the greatest rivalries in modern
history.
Chapter one: An Introduction on Totalitarianism
Stalin’s rise to power was quite an extraordinary feat. He began by creating a
mass following by charming and catering to not only the requests of the communist, but
also to the desire for the Soviet Union to take a more idealistic and activist path. Stalin
was loved by many and for numerous reasons. He simplified communism4 and reduced
the communistic ideology so that the masses could understand communism in an
ordinary light and not something out of intellectual or false grasp. Much like Hitler,
Stalin emphasized the idea of hope and optimism; two things that the people of Russia
clung to dearly during this time of new age revolution. Steinberg indicates that he built
his following by appealing “not only to the careerist aspirations of many Communists
but also to widespread desires for the Soviet Union to take a more idealist and activist
path”.5 These two distinguishing factors of Stalin’s political approach are what aided him
in attracting his numerous allies and admirers. Although his ascension into power was
solidified earlier than when Hitler began his climb, Stalin’s rise to power was a little
slower that of his German counterpart; however once his route to power was secure,
there was not much capable of stopping him from wreaking havoc on the people of the
Soviet Union all in the name of communism, and through his ambition to create a more
4 Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, HistoryofRussia, (New York:Oxford University Press:
2011) 510
5Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, Historyof Russia,HistoryofRussia 509-510

4
powerful prevailing and singular nation that would prevail. In doing so he created an
incredibly powerful and well-policed nation. Stalin’s totalitarian police state in some
respects bears an acute resemblance to or in some areas indirectly comparable with
Hitler’s. It was nearly the same method, structure and means Hitler had used in conquest
of Germany. Both leaders were ruthless, extreme in economic policies, unambiguously
committed to world conquest, and quite dangerous to democracy and civilized morals.
Stalin had a political policy which included a set of five year plans that according
to Walter Duranty, the Moscow Bureau chief of The New York Times, as quoted by
Steinberg, were intended to transform Russia from the “backward agricultural
individualism to mechanized collectivism, from the hot house subsidized industry to self
sufficient industry on the greatest, most modern scale, from the mentality of feudalism,
far behind the Western industrial age, to socialism still ahead of it.” 6 The sheer success
of the five-year plans on the Russian economy was undeniable; Russia had risen to
become the great industrial nation that Stalin wished and worked for. The Soviet Union
went from being the fifth country in the world’s production to second.7 Stalin was
determined to bring power back to Russia and it was of such great importance that he
let no man stand in his way. He believed if he forced industrialization upon Russia that it
would help his country to rebuild. He envisioned a prosperous Russia and sold the image
of a joyous Russia to the people. In 1933, during the second set of Five-Year Plans he
stated, “Life has become better comrades, life has become more joyous, and when you
6Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, Historyof Russia,HistoryofRussia 511
7 Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, Historyof Russia,HistoryofRussia 514

5
are living joyously, work turns out well.”8 His optimism, along with the ever-present
economical success that he brought Russia made him a favorable leader.
Adolf Hitler was a powerful and mesmerizing speaker who attracteda wide
following of Germans who were desperate for change. He brought promises to those
who were struggling for better life and a new and glorious Germany. The Nazis
appealed inparticular to the unemployed, young people, and members of the lower
middle class. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power was strikingly similar to Stalin’s.Germany
at the time of Hitler’s rise was a place of chaos, much like Russia was. The post World
War One period saw Germany in shambles and unemployment was driving millions
of Germans to drastic measures. The people of Germany were in dire need of
someone to look to during this time of struggle. They needed a leader that they could
cling to for change. Germany needed hope and optimism.The face of such a new
beginning wouldcome in the form of none other than Adolf Hitler.Hitler andhis Nazi
movement set out to create a new look that wouldre-unite and revitalize the German
people9 Hitler possessed an extraordinary capacity for self-dramatization,which
helped to sway the masses. He was a skilledspeaker as well as a proficient
propagandist. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Nazi propaganda stressed
to both civilians at home and to soldiers, police officers, and non-German auxiliaries
serving in occupied territory themes linking Soviet Communism to European Jewry,
presenting Germany as the defender of “Western” culture against the Judeo-Bolshevik
8 Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, HistoryofRussia,Historyof Russia 511
9 BullockAllan, Hitler: A studyin Tyranny, (New York:Harper & Row publishers inc: 1964)103

6
threat, and painting an apocalyptic picture of what would happen if the Soviets won the
war. Before the outbreak of World War Two on September 1st 1939, it was clear that
Hitler had a bone to pick with the Soviet.
Many of Hitler’s public speeches and throughout the 30’s set a vague prelude to
the terrors to come some years later. His distaste toward the Jewish population was ever
present, and to those who espoused Bolshevism. In 1935 he reintroduced universal
military service and made clear his expectation that the armed forces would not only
need to remain loyal to the National Socialist view of the state, but would also select
officers, as he stated, “according to the strictest racial criteria, going beyond the legal
regulations.”10 Many people today question how a nation could fall into grips of a man so
menacing, but Hitler, much like Stalin, had the gift of all great politicians, grasping the
possibilities of a situation more swiftly than his opponents. He played on the grievances
and bitterness of the German people and sought his support by appealing to the popular
desires and prejudices rather than utilizing a rational argument. He was a demagogue
and one of the greatest demagogues in history. He stated, “To be a leader, means to be
able to move masses”11 and that he did.
10 BullockAllan, Hitler and Stalin:ParallelLives (New York:Vintage Books,1993) 325
11 Bullock,Hitler:A studyin Tyranny, 37

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Chapter Two: Germany and Russia’s Pre WorldWar Two Relations
Relations between Russia and Germany prior to World War Two were
apprehensive; in fact their formal relations date back to World War One. Before the non-
aggression pact between Germany and Russia in 1939, there was the Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of March 3rd 1918. The treaty was the first official act of the Soviet government,
which was performed on the very day of the anniversary of the revolution, March 3rd
1917.12 Officially the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk formally ended Russia’s participation in
World War One as well as hostilities between Russia and Germany. Additionally this
treaty ceded the Baltic States to Germany and recognized the independence of Ukraine.13
The negotiations for a final peace treaty were launched just before Christmas at Brest-
Litovsk, which was the headquarters of the German command for the eastern front.14 It
was the Russians who first proposed armistice, which took the Germans by surprise.
Although Germany was surprised to receive a Soviet bid for a peace agreement they
were delighted.15 However soon after discussions of the pact began Russia felt otherwise
about the ramifications surrounding the treaty. The greatest hardship imposed on
Russians at Brest-Litovsk was not anything that the treaty necessarily imposed upon
them but rather what was excluded from them. Ukraine was left out of the German-
Soviet settlement. “The territories lying to the west of the line agreed upon by the
contracting parties, which formerly belonged to Russia, will no longer be subject to
12 Kennan George, Russiaand theWest underLenin andStalin, (Boston, Massachusetts: An
Atlantic Monthly Press Book 1960) 33
13 Kennan, Russiaandthe West underLeninand Stalin, 38
15 Kennan, Russiaandthe Westunder LeninandStalin, 37

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Russian sovereignty; the line agreed upon is traced on the map submitted as an essential
part of this treaty of peace. The exact fixing of the line will be established by a Russo-
German commission.”16 Not only was Ukraine left out of the settlement, but also a
separate agreement was made with the representatives of the Ukrainian Rada and this
left the Germans free to occupy and exploit the Ukraine for their own war effort. With
this being done, the Russians were not able to seize the Ukraine by force of arms. “Russia
obligates herself to conclude peace at once with the Ukrainian People's Republic and to
recognize the treaty of peace between that State and the Powers of the Quadruple
Alliance. The Ukrainian territory will, without delay, be cleared of Russian troops and
the Russian Red Guard. Russia is to put an end to all agitation or propaganda against the
Government or the public institutions of the Ukrainian People's Republic.”17 Four of the
fourteen articles listed within the Brest-Litosk treaty were specifically aimed at Russia.
This occurred with no other nation involved in the treaty. The Brest-Litosk treaty was a
harsh settlement for the Russians; however they very much needed to be out of the war
so that they could face the issues related to the revolution and emerging civil war
occurring in their homeland. The loss of land and military force was the true price the
Russians paid for a separate peace. The Brest-Litovsk Treaty had some stipulations that
the Russians were not fond of however the treaty had allowed the Bolshevik Revolution
16 “The Peaceof Brest-Litovsk-TheTreaty of Peace Between Russia and Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey” 3 March 1918
https://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/government/foreign-relations/1918/March/3a.htm
(Accessed February 11th 2015)
17 The Peaceof Brest-Litovsk-TheTreaty of Peace Between Russia and Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey” 3 March 1918

9
to succeed.18 The Bolshevik Revolution owed its very survival to the accord between
Moscow and Berlin.
Quite similar to the length of the later Molotov Ribbentrop Pact, the Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk was indeed a short-lived agreement. The duration of the treaty was only
eight and a half months. It was Germany who renounced and broke diplomatic relations
with Soviet Russia. The treaty was terminated when Germany surrendered to the Allies.
Although the treaty was terminated, it did provide some level of relief to the Bolsheviks
who were already fighting the Russian Civil war by renouncing Russia’s claims on
Poland. The Brest-Litovsk Treaty has been regarded as an exceptionally difficult
arrangement. In fact this treaty is a great example of the merciless viciousness of the
German foreign policy. Some two decades later we will see yet again another agreement
that would further exemplify Germany’s fierce foreign policy.
Relations between Russia and Germany saw some progress in 1920 when Lenin
envisioned a partnership with Germany as an option for Moscow’s diverse diplomacy.
He suggested doing so because he felt that, “Germany is one of the strongest advanced
capitalist countries, it cannot put up with the Versailles treaty, and Germany, herself an
imperialist, must seek an ally against world imperialism.”19 He stated this in his speech
on December 6th. The two nations continued their tense but logical relations through the
passing of leaders from Lenin to Stalin.
18 Alexander Dallin, SovietForeignPolicy 1917-1990,(New York&London: Garland Publishing
Inc 1992) 576
Inc 1992) 576

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Chapter Three: Pre World War Two Russia
The Soviet, also referred to as the Bolsheviks in the earlier stages, was born out of
Russia’s Social Democrat party; when the party split in 1903 the first and most obvious
leader was none other than Vladimir Lenin. The Bolsheviks, translated as “bigger”, or
“majority”, was the new party in power after the Romanov Empire was overthrown and
Lenin would be the new face of revolution in Russia. Lenin was a Marxist and would lead
Russia through a revolution that would shape Russia into the Communist state that Nazi
Germany would grow to detest. Lenin was a very forward seeing leader who was anti-
imperialist and believed that all nations deserved the right to self-determination. The
fall of the Romanov dynasty and the Bolshevik victory in 1917 cannot be separated from
Lenin.20 After Lenin’s death in 1924 there was a struggle for power. It could have been
assumed that Leon Trotsky would be next in line to lead the Communist Party as Lenin
described him as “Personally perhaps the most capable person” in the central committee
of the party.21 However the hand of Joseph Stalin promptly severed Trotsky’s chance to
rise to power. Stalin’s actions behind the scenes had allowed him to build up a following
strong enough to triumph over the grand rhetoric and prestige status that was Trotsky.
Stalin ingeniously allied himself with those who envied Trotsky and considered him a
rival for party leadership. The Soviet Union at the time was split in two, a leftist faction
and a rightist faction. The two different sides both agreed that the country needed to
come out of this backwards era as it became a serious obstacle when trying to build

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socialism in Russia; however a problem arose when deciding which side would work
best to bring Russia forward. Stalin, a left wing supporter, accused his opponents,
Trotsky included, of factionalism, and particularly for disobeying the established party
line and for splitting the party. It was then that Stalin emerged as the new prominent
leader shown in 1927 at the fifteenth All-Union Congress of the Communist Party, where
he condemned those who he saw as rivals to be exiled. In fact “Trotsky himself was
expelled from the Soviet Union in January 1929 and was eventually murdered in exile in
Mexico in 1940, almost certainly on Stalin’s orders.”22
Stalin’s political revolution revolved around industrial and agriculture revolution,
social transformation, and totalitarianism by building the one party state and the cult of
personality. The cult of personality was a propaganda tool used to create a paternal
figure out of Stalin. Propaganda was used to force images of “energy, joy and purpose”;
however these images did not mesh well with the reality of the harsh daily experiences
of most of the people of the nation.23 Despite these parallels in his cult it did continue to
grow and by 1929 he established himself as the ultimate expert in many fields outside of
politics. Films overly glorified his role and participation in the revolution portraying him
as the chief hero of the civil war. This was very much untrue. Actually the true hero was
Trotsky and the Bolshevik Revolution cannot be separated from Lenin and his works.
Soon Stalin’s image dominated all over Russia and he became the focus of literature,
23 Suny G. Ronald, TheSoviet Experiment:RussiaTheUSSR,andthe SuccessorStates (New York:
OxfordUniversity Press 1998) 253

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paintings and music.24 In doing so he extended his control and presence across the
country. The cult of personality served a larger purpose than to just stroke his ego. This
cult invoked feelings of purpose and unity. Some things the people could cling to and
hold confidence in while he implemented rapid changes throughout the nation brought
on by the Five Year Plans.
The success of the five-year plan on Russian economy was undeniable; Russia
had become the grand industrial nation that Stalin worked so hard to build. Along
with the five-year plans, Stalin also had implemented a plan that would later be
known as a series of “Great Purges”. He began a purge to eliminate anyone who
appeared to oppose him. In 1933 “400,000 alone were expelled from the communist
party.”25 Stalin, being the charismatic and compelling character he was had
convinced the public that all those who were “purged” out of the Soviet Union were
true and real threats. Aside from these great purges, Stalin also deported mass
amounts of people who opposed obligatory collectivization and denounced then as a
“Kulak”.26 Those who were deported were to work as slave laborers and work on
projects to help industrialize the Soviet Union. Stalin rule did not discriminate
against people of his own country. Nearly no one was safe from Stalin’s rule. “Men
and older boys, along with childless women and unmarried girls, became slave-
laborers in Soviet mines and big industrial projects. Their holdings were absorbed
24 Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, HistoryofRussia,Historyof Russia 558
25 Cawthrone Nigel, TheCrimesof Stalin: TheMurderous CareerofTheRed Tsar
(London: Arcturus Publishing Limited 2011) 131
26 Cawthorne TheCrimesof Stalin 108

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into 240,000 collective farms and carts, livestock and farm implements would
become property of the state.”27 His idea was that larger farms would be more
economical and efficient than smaller private farms but it would turn out that they
were not and widespread famine was the end result. Ukraine was hit the hardest,
though the rest of Russia, and the world, knew little about it. Stalin, being the skilled
propagandist, had converted the eye of the Soviet to other matters. Much like Hitler,
Stalin had infiltrated every aspect of the nation. His image was known and respected
by those of his nation.
The two leaders were masters of using propaganda and because of that they
woulduse many forms of it. Hitler and Stalin used not only their impeccable skills of
persuading speech as a form of propaganda, they also used photographs as a form of
propaganda. These photographs promoted their supposed “nice and wholesome”
personality. In these photos they would be depicted as being a hero, they would be
helping the poor families, or be holding a small child. These photos gave the public
the idea that they were caring, loving and absolutely concerned for the well being of
the people. Stalin was determined to bring power back to Russia and it was of such
great importance that he let no man stand in his way. He believed if he forced
industrializationuponRussia that it would help his country to rebuild. Stalin and his
associates had insisted that is was necessary to build a powerful socialist state
27 Cawthorne TheCrimesof Stalin 108

14
quickly or eventually be crushedby the capitalists.28 What was occurring in Russia at
the time wouldlater be referred to as the Stalin Revolution. Stalinism was at one and
the same time revolutionary and conservative. Although it was an authoritarian
dictatorship it differed from most traditional autocratic dictatorships that typically
served and sought to preserve the “status quo”. Stalin was unwilling to “accept
backward Russia as it was, but while radically transforming it, he also wanted to
solidify and stabilize his regime by restoring certain traditional values like
patriotism and patriarchy.”29
28 Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, Historyof Russia,HistoryofRussia 519-520
29 Ronald, TheSoviet Experiment252

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Chapter Four: Pre WorldWar Two Germany
Nazism was essentially born out of a very nationalist and anti-Semitic
mindset.30 Nazi origins canbe tracedback to 1919 with the foundation of the
German Worker’s Party. This associationwas intended to promote German pride and
anti-Semitism while expressing discontent with the ramifications imposedon
Germany with the Treaty of Versailles.The Treaty of Versailles was the 1919 peace
agreement that formally ended WorldWar One. Germany was dealt the hardest hand
at Versailles including numerous reparations and concessions.After the signing of
the treaty Germany’s economic crisis began. “The WorldWar One winners deprived
the country of a part of its territories with three-quarters of ironore reserves.
Germany was supposed to pay Hitler was one of the many German individuals who
were frustratedwith Germanys defeat. WorldWar One left the nation economically
depressed and tremendously politicallyunstable.It was this that drove Hitler into
joining the German Worker’s Party. Hitler attendedhis first meeting on the evening
of September 12th 191931 and having been impressed he decidedto jointhe party
and soon became heavily evolved.Current leaders of the party were impressed with
Hitler andlatter invitedhim to a committee meeting.Slowly he pushed the party
forward and by 1920 he was incharge of the party’s propaganda sector.32

16
Throughout much of the 1920’s Hitler gave numerous captivating and
powerful speeches suggesting that life inGermany wouldnot see any improvement
until a revolutiontook place.Much of his solutions to the life problems many
Germans faced were to eradicate the Jewish and communist populationfor their
nation. After becoming the new leader he changed the name from National Socialist
German Worker’s Part to a simpler, Nazi Party. While under the directionof Adolf
Hitler, The Nazi Party expanded into an immense movement that wouldeventually
rule throughout Germany. Being such a charismatic speaker,he began to attract new
members and had createdhimself a following. Inmany of his speeches he utilizedthe
Jewish populationas a scapegoat for many of Germany’s issues. It was also during
this time he began to advocate extreme nationalism and created his concept of the
Aryanmaster race. In1929 Germany’s unemployment rate continuedto plummet
along with a severe economic downfall.Hitler usedthis to his advantage and played
on the people’s troubles. He criticizedthe current ruling government and soon he
began to winelections.Later in1933 he surpassed party leader to the chancellor of
Germany and when he assumed power so did the Nazi government.He soon turned
his positionas chancellor into a means for dictatorship.He utilizedhis positionin
power to control every aspect of German life.
Hitler was quick to rule Germany by way of totalitarian means and did so over
the entire nation from 1933 to 1945. Hitler hadlittle trouble gaining a strong

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following for he had strongly pledged radical economical policies,civil peace andto
restore national unity and pride. Once in control of the government Hitler aimedhis
foreign policy towardundoing the Treaty of Versailles as he felt it was the very
reason Germany was inso much turmoil.Along with undoing the consequences that
came with the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler also aimedto restore Germany’s standing
in comparisonwith the rest of the world.33 One repercussionthat Hitler particularly
sought to change about the Treaty of Versailles was the newly redrawn post World
War One map of Europe. The newly creatednations such as Czechoslovakia and
Austria were separating Germans from Germans, as many Germans livedwithin
those borders. He sought to expand Germany’s borders inorder to increase the living
space for Germany’s growing population. He eventually withdrew Germany from the
League of Nations in1933 and rebuild German armed forces far beyond what the
Treaty of Versailles had permitted.It was clear he was preparing for war far before
any invasionoccurred.It wouldtake only six short years for the Nazi Party’s foreign
policy to set off WorldWar Two.
From the midto late 1930’s Hitler disassembledthe postwar international
order. First notable step was the withdrawal from the League of Nations,then it was
the rebuilding of the militia forces,the next step was to reclaim and reoccupy
previous territories such as reoccupying Rhinelandin1936 and annexing Austria in
1938 and finally invading Czechoslovakia in1939. After Czechoslovakia Hitler had

18
his sights set on Poland;however Great Britainand France countered further
aggression by guaranteeing Polish security. Later that same year Hitler and Stalin
signed and Nazi-Soviet non-aggressionpact which wouldultimately allow him to
more easily advance onPoland causing the initial outbreak of WorldWar Two.

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Chapter Five: The NonaggressionPact
There is little fact and true knowledge as to whether the Germans or Russians
made the first formal approach for a pact but there were hints and probes by both
parties in the spring of 1939.34 One particular advance made by the Germans was when
Germany’s ambassador was instructed to suggest a reopening of the economic talks that
were before broken off by Germany. Stalin responded, but communicated by Molotov
was cautious. Stalin had made it clear that he would only be interested in an agreement
if the “necessary political basis had been established first.”35 When asked to explain he
stated that the nature of the political basis was something both governments would have
to think about. Time was a pressing issue for the Germans for the military had
considered August 25th as the last secure date for an attack on Poland before the mid-
September rains which would make it difficult to commence a blitzkrieg. At the time it
was mid July. Due to the time constraints on Germany Hitler had to make and secure an
offering that appealed to Russia. It was then clear to Hitler there would have to be a deal
made with expenses and in this case Poland was the expense. A draft was created and
accepted by the Russians however the Russians added a “postscript” stating the
agreement would only be valid if a special protocol were signed at the same time
covering the points which they were interested. This was accepted and the signing of
the pact was soon underway.
34 Bullock,Hitler:A studyin Tyranny 613

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The two-part agreement that came to be between Russia and Germany was
officially named The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, respectfully named after the Soviet
foreign minster Vyacheslv Mikhailovish Molotov and the German foreign minister
Joachim Von Ribbentrop. This agreement was officially titled the Treaty of Non-
Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union. On August 22nd, just one day prior
to the signing of the pact, Adolf Hitler granted full powers to the Reich Foreign Minister,
Herr Joachim Von Ribbentrop. “I hereby grant full power to negotiate, in the name of the
German Reich, with authorized representatives of the Government of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, regarding a non-aggression treaty, as well as all related questions,
and if occasion arises, to sign both the non-aggression treaty and other agreements
resulting from the negotiations, with the proviso that this treaty and these agreements
shall enter into force as soon as they are signed.”36 The following day, representatives
from the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany met and signed the Treaty of Non-aggression.
Molotov then began negotiating with Nazi Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop. Stalin's
strategy was to gain time for strengthening the weak Soviet army by keeping away from
war with another country in terms, keeping peace with Germany. Hitler was also
exceedingly interested in a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union because such
agreement would grant him a greater and ability to invade Poland with minimal forces,
and maintain low occupancy. This would then allow Hitler to use more troops against
France and Britain, without having to fight on two fronts simultaneously. This pact was
36 Statement By Joachim Von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, On the Declaration Of War
On the Soviet Union” The Avalon Project: Nazi-Soviet Relations 1939-1941. Accessed February 5th,
http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/410622b.html.

21
officially signed in Moscow late August 23rd 1939.37 By signing this pact Hitler had
essentially protected Germany from having to battle a two front war so early on during
World War Two.
The pact was supposed to have lasted for ten years and was an agreement that
neither side would attack one another, independently or in conjunction with other
powers and not to support any third power that might attack the other party. Under the
terms and conditions of this pact, if Germany were to attack Poland, The Soviet would
not come to its aid.38 The central idea and pretense of this pact was to have a non-
aggressive partnership between the two nations. Each country pledged to remain
neutral in the event that a third party attacked either nation. In addition to the non-
aggressive stipulation, the treaty also included a secret protocol. This protocol was to
remain strictly undisclosed between the two nations in fact the secret section of the
agreement was not to be published until after the official announcement of the treaty.
This secret protocol had divided northern and Eastern Europe into German and Soviet
spheres of influence. The agreement stated, “ In the event of a territorial and political
rearrangement of the areas belonging to the Polish state, the spheres of influence of
Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narev,
Vistula and San. The question of whether the interests of both parties make desirable the
maintenance of an independent Polish States and how such a state should be bounded
37 Bullock,Hitlerand Stalin: Parallel Lives 620-621

22
can only be definitely determined in the course of further political developments.”39 In
addition to this secret protocol, each party was to maintain continual contact with one
another in order to exchange in formation on problems affecting their common
interests. If there were to be any type of dispute or disagreement between the two
parties over problems of any kind, both parties had agreed to settle the issues
exclusively through a forthcoming exchange of opinion or if necessary, through the
establishment of arbitration commissions.40 Prior to the pact, Germany already had an
agenda focused on Poland and within twenty-four hours after the agreement was signed
and finalized that agenda was put into action.
Of course Hitler was looking to expand to the east so Invading Poland was an
inevitable action. A conquest of Poland would expand German living space and allow the
expansion for Hitler’s plan that involved his idea of a superior race. What was also
foreseeable was Germany moving onto Russian territory. However the last thing Hitler
would want was to become involved with Russia while still engaged with Poland. With
the non-aggression pact signed and underway, Hitler had secured his advancement on
Poland.
Stalin’s strong interest in taking partial claim and occupancy of Poland was to
make it the “centerpiece of a broad defensive belt of territory against invasion for the
39 Modern History Sourcebook: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939." Modern History Sourcebook:
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1939pact.html. (Accessed
October 10th 2014)
40 Modern History Sourcebook: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,1939."

23
west extending all the way from Finland to the black sea”41 Stalin, like Hitler, was
incredibly concerned with expanding his nations borders and Poland was a perfect fit in
the map he had envisioned in his mind. At the same time that Stalin’s Red Army
advanced into Poland, he enforced treaties on the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania. In doing so he had allowed the Soviet Union to keep a stronghold on their
territory. Stalin’s claim on these states was no more or less menacing than if they were
to have been occupied by German forces.
41 Bullock, Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives 659

24
Chapter Six: The Invasionof Poland
Even before Stalin agreed and signed the Non-Aggression pact, Hitler had already
determined that the attack on Poland was necessary and ought happen. The actual
invasion would begin as planned only three days following the pact, August 26th 1939.42
Hitler had concluded that a conflict with Poland was due to come sooner or later and it
was more beneficial to have it begin at this time when they were ready, prepared, and
well planned for. He summoned leading commanders of the navy, army, air force, and SS
to hear his plans and he explained to the masses his plans of attack. In his explanation he
stated that he wanted to attack from the west first but that it had become clear that if he
did Poland would attack Germany from behind. A conflict with Poland was surely due to
come sooner or later and it was best to do so at the time rather than wait. Hitler, as
quoted by Bullock, shared some words with the commanders in order to prepare them
for war. Hitler stated:
“For us it is easy to make decisions. We have nothing to lose, everything to gain. Our
economic situation is such that we cannot hold out for more than a few years. Goring can
confirm this. We have no other choice: We must act. Our opponents will be risking a
great deal and can gain only a little. Britain’s stake in war is inconceivably great. Our
enemies have leaders who are below average. No masters, no men of action. No one
knows how long I shall live. I am now fifty and at the height of my powers. It is better
war should come now rather than in five year’s time when Mussolini and I will be
older.”43
Hitler made the most excellent use of his fierce public speaking skills to fire up
his commanders and get them ready for war. Being boastful he goes on to asure his men
that they would have an advantage over the enemy: the nonaggression pact with Russia.
43 Bullock, Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives 622-23

25
“The enemy had another hope, that Russia would become our enemy after the conquest
of Poland. The enemy did not reckon with my great strength of purpose… Today’s
announcement of the nonaggression pact with Russia came as a bombshell. The day
after tomorrow Ribbentrop will conclude the treaty. The consequences cannot be
foreseen…”44 Based on numerous of the events following the signing of the pact it is
comprehensible that Hitler’s true agenda was always Poland and not peace.
Once Hitler had confirmed that the pact had been finalized and signed he gave the
preliminary orders for “Operation White”, the invasion on Poland, to begin at 4:30am on
Saturday the twenty-sixth.45 The attack on Poland was considered by the Germans as
the 1939 Defense war because Hitler had declared that Poland had attacked Germany
and he stated that, “Germans in Poland are persecuted with a bloody terror and are
driven from their homes. The series of border violations, which are unbearable to a
great power, prove that the Poles no longer are willing to respect the German frontier.”46
After Hitler invaded Poland, Germany without delay massacred Polish and Jewish
citizens. He set up various concentration camps to achieve his dream of exterminating
the Jews and “undesirables”. The Germans murdered almost six million Poles, nearly half
of them Jewish. Overall, between the German and Soviet Union occupation, Poland lost
46 New YorkTimes, On Thisday:“GermanArmyAttacks Poland;Cities Bombed,Port Blockaded;
DanzigisAccepted into Reich. September 1939
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0901.html#article
(Accessed October10, 2014)

26
over 21% of its population and over 90% of the casualties were civilians.47 The secret
protocol that divided Poland between Germany and Russia became an utter devastation
to the individuals who lived in Poland.
While Poland was under invasion by German force, Russia kept her end of the
agreement and did not protect or assist Poland. In fact, due to the secret protocol, even
the Soviet reporting of the initial German invasion on Poland was especially neutral and
overall quite scarce. The Soviet press attempted to sound as objective and unbiased as
possible and in doing so they were rather mindful to avoid any controversial matters
such as “Operation Himmler” at Gleiwitz where Germans, dressed in Polish Uniform,
attacked a German Wireless station48 as a way to portray the Polish army in a negative
light. Soviet press was so careful in what was posted and released to the public they
even reduce Hitler’s Reichstag speech, which announced the invasion of Poland, to less
than a full three column heading in the Pravda on September 2nd. (Pravda was a Russian
political newspaper associated with the communist party, which began after the October
Revolution; Pravda is translated as “truth” or “listening”) American press about Hitler’s
invasion and occupation in Poland was much different. October 20th 1939 the New York
Times headlines read, “Germany Annexes Section Of Poland; Districts Lost in World War
Reincorporated in Reich—Rest to Serve as Buffer”49 American press was undeniably
47 Sebastian Haffner, TheMeaningof Hitler, (Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University
Press 1979) 135
48 Alexander Werth, Russia at War:1941-1945 76
49 Peters, C “Germany Annexes Section Of Poland; Districts Lost in WorldWar” New York
Times Archives. October20th 1939.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C07E2D8143EE23ABC4851DFB667838262
9EDE (Accessed May 13th 2015)

27
including negative opinion and reliable information that Soviet press was sure to leave
out. What the Soviet did include in was Hitler’s statement that implied the ratification of
the Soviet-German pact. “I can endorse every word that foreign commissar Molotov
uttered in his Supreme Soviet speech.”50 The reasoning for including this statement was
so Stalin’s decision to become an ally with Hitler would seem like the best idea possible
to the public eye. Soviet reports on the war continued and events such as any Heroic or
opposing actions evolving Polish soldiers. Their resistance and suffering went
unmentioned in Russian news. In fact a September fourteenth editorial argued that the
Polish army had practically not fought at all:
“Why is this Polish Army not offering the Germans any resistance to speak of? It is
because Poland is not a homogeneous country. Only sixty per cent of the populations are
poles, the rest are Ukrainians, Belorussians and Jews… The eleven million Ukrainians
and Belorussians are living in a state of national oppression… The administration is
polish, and no other language is recognized. There are practically no non-polish schools
or other cultural establishments. The Polish constitution does not give non-poles the
right to be taught in their own language. Instead, the polish Government has been
pursing a policy of forced Polonisation…”51
The many articles and editorials released by the Soviet press is evidence of pure
propaganda intended to convey an impression that Poland was in a complete state of
chaos and in need of the Red Army’s guidance, not to rescue them from Hitler’s invasion
but to police them for a Soviet benefit. Much of how the Russian press skewered the
information and reports of Germany’s invasion on Poland, the same occurred when the
Red army arrived on the scene. Pravda reports went on to describe the Russians arrival
in Poland with enthusiasm describing the Army being welcomed by the people of
50 Werth, RussiaatWar: 1941-194576

28
western Ukraine and western Belorussia. Some of the articles headlines stated things
such as, “Happy Days in the Liberated Villages, Jubilant Crowds Heartily Welcome N. S.
Khrushchev, Population to Red Army: “You have Saved Our Lives!”52 These headlines
were certainly opposite of the truth and were instead undeniably propaganda intended
to create a positive view on the horrors that were occurring. Altering the publics’
interpretation of the war would allow Stalin to keep his large following of supporters.
It can be thoroughly noted and implied that both The Soviet Union and Nazi
Germany were successfully utilizing the pact to further obtain prior set goals and geo
political objectives. The splitting of Poland allowed each nation to achieve their own
previously set agenda. Whether or not Russia was aware that their agreement would fall
through so early on it was not clear, what was clear was that Stalin was taken by
surprise when no more than two years after the signing and finalization of the pact
Germany would gear its political agenda on Russia and attempt to take by force,
regardless of what was said or signed in 193.9

29
Chapter Seven: The Invasion of Russia
The very foundation and reasoning for a pact between Russia and Germany was
evident and understandable, however a war between Germany and Russia was also
unavoidable and to be expected as long as Hitler had “persisted in looking for Germany’s
living-space in the east.”53 There were no obvious present signs that Hitler was going to
cross into Russia so swiftly in the war; however if one were to pay close attention to
Hitler’s previous plans and his set agenda, one could have guessed the attack was on its
way. There just was not a sure way of estimating when it would occur and this was the
issue that Russia faced.
German forces broke the treaty and invaded the Soviet Union on June 22nd 1941
under the codename operation “Barbarossa”. Contrary to popularopinion, from that
point on the war would essentially be focused on the east and not the west. When
German soldiers crossed the Soviet Union’s border they brought with them over eighty
percent of the Nazi Military machine, which in total included about three million men
and three thousand tanks.54 As the German army advanced deep into Soviet territory, SS
and police units followed the troops. The first to arrive were the Einsatzgruppen of the
Security Police and the SD. SD was a shortened term for Sicherheltsdienst, the security
service. Reich Main Security Office, the “RSHA”, tasked the SD with identifying and
eliminating persons who might organize and implement resistance to the German
54 DavidR. Stone, TheSoviet Unionat War 1941-1945,(SouthYorkshire, Great Britain: Pen &
Sword books 1988)

30
occupation forces, identifying and concentrating groups of people who were "hostile" to
German rule in the East, establishing intelligence networks, and securing key
documentation and facilities. Often known as mobile killing units, the Einsatzgruppen
initiated mass-murder operations, primarily against Jewish males, officials of the
Communist Party and State and Soviet Roma, and, often with assistance from German
Army personnel, established ghettos and other holding facilities to concentrate large
numbers of Soviet Jews. Much like Hitler’s previous invasions, the attack on Soviet Union
began by air and concentrated on Russian frontline airbases.55 The Soviet Union had a
substantially larger, though less modern, air force than Germany, and destroying it was
extremely crucial to Germany’s success. The German attack caught the Soviet military
completely off guard, and its forces were not positioned to respond effectively to the
attacks. In its confusion, the Soviet high command issued contradictory orders, and
Joseph Stalin hesitated before ordering decisive action. Soviet forces were crumbling
under the stress of the initial surprise attack. In the meantime while Russia struggled to
pull together, German forces advanced quickly across the Russian countryside. While
Russia was recovering from the initial shock of the assault the German forces were
completely unhinging the Soviet Northwestern and western fronts.56 Stalin himself
seemed most surprised and slow to react to the assault. He had “failed to grasp the scale
of military operations and the vastness of the war engulfing the Soviet Union.”57 It was
not till the end of June when the Soviet divisions were trapped in a giant German
55 Professor John and Ljubica Erickson, Hitler V Stalin: The Greatest Conflict of The Second World
(London: Carlton Publishing Group 2001) 27
56 Professor John and Ljubica Erickson, Hitler V Stalin: The Greatest Conflict of The Second World
War 19
57 John and Erickson, Hitler V Stalin 19

31
encirclement did Stalin become fully aware of the truth and vast scale of the war that was
not supposed to happen on his land. Stalin would finally come to grips and assemble an
army that would eventually defeat the SS troops of Germany. But from 1941 till the defeat
of the Germans in 1945, Soviet Russia would loose 25-30 million lives from military
casualties, disease, starvation, or direct extermination. Roughly 8-10 million were
directly military related deaths.58 Statistically speaking the Russians suffered lost of the
largest percentage losses of their population as compared to other countries. “For every
American or British soldier who perished, twenty Soviet soldiers died. One thousand
Soviets died every hour of every day of every month of every year from June 1941 to May
1945”59 The Soviet Union struggled all throughout the war; however the tides finally
turned in their favor in 1943 at the Battle of Stalingrad.
At the initial time of the attack it seemed as though Soviet men were falling faster
than snow in the wintertime. Germany had the advantage of getting a great lead on the
very unprepared Russia, however the most fantastic yet unthinkable thing occurred in
favor of the Russians at Stalingrad on January 31st 1943. The German army was
advancing to the city and since the Russians had already faced so much set back and
defeat during the operation Barbarossa and by the power of Blitzkrieg, they had to take a
stance and not allow another German victory on their own soil. Stalingrad was named
after Joseph Stalin, giving Russia even more to defend this city. Stalin had already
58 John and Erickson, Hitler V Stalin 21
59 Stone, The Soviet Union at War 1941-1945 3

32
implemented order number 227, which was essentially a no step back or retreat order in
July of 1942 because of a hunch that the Nazi’s ‘Operation Blue’ would target his city of
Stalingrad, and he was right. Some would call this order twisted as it took the lives of
many Russians who attempted to retreat during battle, but others could call this order a
winning strategy. This lingering and enduring battle lasted from July 1942 to February
1943 and cost the Soviet Red Army a staggering 1,129,619 men killed and wounded.60
Stalin demanded that his city be held and protected at all cost, and this left the German
army trapped which then worsened the conditions of the troops thus leaving many dead
and dying during the hopes of a German breakout that would never come because of the
strengthened Russian outer ring. This intense battle became one of the most vicious
battles during all of World War Two. Unlike in the pacific theatre at the time where
combat was very spread out and impersonal, many individual streets were fought over
using face to face and in some cases even in hand-to-hand combat.61 An estimated
90,00062 German men were taken prisoner and even more fell victim to the harsh
Russian winter and because of such a massive loss of both manpower and equipment
Germany would eventually loose its grip on Russia. Final victory came when Soviet
soldiers raised a red flag over Berlin in April of 1945 and the Germans finally fell to the
Soviet Union, and to the rest of the allies.
Hitler’s army continued to struggle and eventually he would suffer one of his
60 Johnand Erickson,Hitler V Stalin 134
61 Geoffrey Roberts, Victoryat Stalingrad , (Great Britain: Longman Publishing Co. 2002)133
62 Roberts, Victoryat Stalingrad 134

33
greatest military setbacks of the entire war in the summer of 1944. This military casualty
was by far more destructive than the European D-Day landings. Stalin’s comeback nearly
wiped out three times as many German army divisions than the allies did in Normandy.63
He suffered a blow that he would not be able to efficiently recover from and it would seem
as though Germany’s definitive defeat was undeniably only months away.
Hitler’s exclusive driving force for betraying Russia and the nonaggression pact as
well as beginning Russia’s invasion stemmed from a simple yet solid reason. It was his
intention from the very start. Invading and attempting to take Russia was all part of his
expansion plans in lieu of domination for the perfect “German” Aryan population and
race. Much like what happened with Poland, he had his sights and agenda set on Russia
long before he actually chose to advance on them. The pact had essentially bought Hitler
time and allowed him to focus on the war in the west before crossing borders and
wreaking havoc in the east.
When Operation Barbarossa occurred from 1941-1944 Russia lost its hold on the
Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to German forces. Initially when the German
army arrived at the Baltic States they were considered as liberators from the Soviet
Unions force. Hope for independence was high however those hopes were quickly
diminished when mass deportations, killings, and discrimination occurred like it would in
any of the German occupied lands of World War Two.
63 Rees, Laurence. “Hitler’s Invasion of Russia in World War Two.” BBC News. March 30th 2011.
Accessed March 6th 2015.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/hitler_russia_invasion_01.shtml

34
The Nazi regime, and Soviet Russia were two nations that both had prideful
leaders who went from tolerating one another to meet geo-political agendas, to despising
one another while at war with each other. Their relation, this battle and the persistence of
each leader showed the world that these two men had very similar goals and agendas
which ultimately allowed them to work together to meet separate objectives; however
their similarity in leadership style and geo political agenda also is what eventually would
cause the two nations to become involved in one of the most greatest conflicts of the
Second world War.
Chapter Eight: The Aftermath of World War Two and the Pact For
Germany and Russia

35
The Nazi Soviet pact had essentially allowed Germany and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republic, or Russia, to moderately get away with and commit some of the most
atrocious war crimes in modern history, particularly occurring within Poland. The
invasion was the scene of the Katyn massacre by the Soviet secret police in April and
May 1940, which is considered among the worst war crimes of that period. During this
time fifteen thousand Polish officers were sent to three different camps in western
Russia and help there until May of 1940.64 The Soviet police interviewed the army and
police officers and decide who should live or die. In April 1943 Germans unearthed over
four thousand corpses at one of the camps; most of the bodies were bound with their
hands behind their backs with each containing a single shot to the head. The Nazi’s
claimed the Russians executed them and the Russians blamed the Germans. The facts
would not be unveiled until 1989 when the Russians finally admitted it that they had
been responsible for executing all of those 15,000 Polish lives.65
Near the end of World War Two, the Allies carried out the Yalta Conference. The
Yalta Conference took place from February 4th to the 11th, 1945, in a Russian resort town
in the Crimea. Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin each arrived
with their own set ideas and agendas for the conference. It was at this conference that
these three world leaders made critical decisions regarding the upcoming progress of
the war and the postwar world. Here the leaders also discussed and planned the

36
partition of post war Germany66. The United States American President Franklin
Roosevelt and the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed with Stalin to
keeping the nations he annexed under his pact with Hitler such as the Baltic states which
included Estonia, Lativa, and Lithuania as well as the Kresy territory in eastern Poland.
The two leaders also agreed to Stalin driving out the Poles from this territory, which
included thousand of polish soldiers under British command.
The Allied leaders also discussed the future of Germany, Eastern Europe and the
United Nations. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed not only to include France in the
postwar governing of Germany, but also that Germany should assume some, but not all,
responsibility for damages following the war. The Americans and the British generally
agreed that future governments of the Eastern European nations bordering the Soviet
Union should be “friendly” to the Soviet regime while the Soviets pledged to allow free
elections in all territories liberated from Nazi Germany. Negotiators also released a
declaration on Poland, providing for the inclusion of Communists in the postwar
national government.67
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was quite insistent that Hitler had
before misled Chamberlain but Stalin would not deceive him. His security about Stalin
was probably due to the success of their secret “percentages” agreement on the Balkans
66 Roland Paul, Nazisandthe Occult (London:Arcturus Publishing Limited 2012) 379

37
in Moscow October 194468. However it did not take long before both leaders realized
Stalin was not too different than Hitler. Russia would continue its attempts to expand as
a nation and control surrounding territories. Poland as a whole felt betrayed by the
Allies as this “puppet” like communist system was put back in place and implemented
throughout their country unwillingly.
Seventy years post World War Two’s end, into the present day, we can view
Germany and Russia both in an astonishingly different yet successful condition.
According to the current Russian President Vladimir Putin, there was “nothing wrong
with the Molotov Ribbentrop pact in World War II.” He stated this during a 2014
conference with young historians in Moscow. Along with this statement he also went on
to discuss how those were the foreign policy methods then and there was nothing wrong
about it, it simply is just how things were and it worked for them. It is current political
certainty that this pact is what ultimately allowed Stalin to design what would become
the modern Soviet Union post World War II.69 It can be concluded that the two primary
nations involved with the Molotov Ribbentrop pact both benefited from the agreement,
certainly at the time of the initial signing of the pact, and perhaps even to the present
day and time.
Inc 1992) 368-369
69 Chastain, Mary. "Putin Praises Nazi-Soviet WWII Pact as Poland Implements New Defense Plan -
Breitbart." Breitbart. November 8, 2014. http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2014/11/08/vladimir-putin-praises-nazi-
soviet-pact-in-wwii-poland-implements-new-defensestrategy/

38
Bibliography
Primary
"Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact." Princeton University.
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Molotov–Ribbentrop_Pact.html.
(Accessed October 10, 2014)
This primary source was very valuable for it is the actual pact found online.
This source outlined the pact to its entirely including each article as well as the
secret protocol and the articles surround it.
New York Times, On This day: “German Army Attacks Poland; Cities Bombed, Port
Blockaded; Danzig is Accepted into Reich. September 1939
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0901.html#article
(Accessed October 10, 2014)
This New York Times article gives American perspective as well as included
actual statements from Hitler about the invasion of Poland.
“Statement By Joachim Von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, On the
Declaration Of War On the Soviet Union” The Avalon Project : Nazi-Soviet
Relations 1939-1941. http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/410622b.html.
(Accessed November 5th)
This primary source is Germany’s foreign minster Joachim Von Ribbentrop’s
statement in regards to the signing of the Treaty of Non-Aggression between
Germany and the Soviet Union
“The Peace of Brest-Litovsk-The Treaty of Peace Between Russia and Germany,
Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey” 3 March 1918
https://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/government/foreign-
relations/1918/March/3a.htm
(Accessed February 11th 2015)
This primary source is also another valuable one as it is the Brest-Litovsk
treaty and outlines each article and stipulation.
Werth Alexander, Russia at War: 1941-1945 (New York: First Avon Printing, 1965)
This source focused on the war that developed after Germany invaded Russia
and included first hand accounts and soviet reporting of the war and events
during the Second World War.

39
Secondary
Bullock Allan, Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives (New York: Vintage Books, 1993)
The portion of the text utilized examined Nazi-Soviet relations during World
War Two and discussed in details the events leading to the initial signing of the
pact as well as what came to follow.
Bullock Allan, Hitler: A study in Tyranny, (New York: Harper & Row publishers inc: 1964)
The chapter described Hitler pre World War Two and his heavy involvement in
the German Workers Party.
Cawthrone Nigel, The Crimes of Stalin: The Murderous Career of The Red Tsar
(London: Arcturus Publishing Limited 2011)
This text contains a thorough compilation of the many crimes and atrocities
committed by Stalin pre and post World War Two.
Chastain, Mary. "Putin Praises Nazi-Soviet WWII Pact as Poland Implements New
Defense Plan - Breitbart." Breitbart. November 8, 2014.
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2014/11/08/vladimir-putin-praises-nazi-soviet-pact-in-wwii-poland-
implements-new-defense-strategy/.
(Accessed March 2, 2015.)
This article describes how the current President of Russia, Vladimir Putin
views the Non-aggression pact. Chastain also describes how the pact impacted
and shaped modern day Russia.
Dallin Alexander, Soviet Foreign Policy 1917-1990, (New York & London: Garland
Publishing Inc 1992)
The chapter sourced described post World War Two Soviet foreign relations.
Haffner, Sebastian The Meaning of Hitler, (Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard
University Press 1979)
This source analyzed Hitler and his policies as well as the atrocities he
committed. Included were facts and figures of World War Two, primarily
focused on Poland.
“Hitler Rescued German Economy before WWII.” English Pravda.ru. February 7th
2009. http://english.pravda.ru/world/europe/02-07-2009/107924-hitler-0/
(Accessed February 11th 2015.)

40
This source contains a Russian analysis of Germans economic standings
throughout the war.
John and Erickson Ljubica, Hitler V Stalin: The Greatest Conflict of the Second World
War (London: Carlton Publishing Group 2001)
Erickson and John discussed the invasion of Russia and gave great military
insight about the attack and the war that preceded it.
Kennan George, Russia and the West under Lenin and Stalin, (Boston, Massachusetts: An
Atlantic Monthly Press Book 1960)
Kennan discussed pre war affairs between the two nations including the
Brest-Litosk treaty.
This source is the New York Times headline that describes the German invasion
on Poland and also includes an excerpt of a speech Hitler gave in regards to his
reasoning for invading Poland.
Rees, Laurence. “Hitler’s Invasion of Russia in World War Two.” BBC News. March 30th
2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/hitler_russia_invasion_01.shtml
(Accessed November 6th 2015.)
Rees analyzed Hitler and his military setbacks that would eventually cost him
the war.
Roberts Geoffrey, Victory at Stalingrad, (Great Britain: Longman Publishing Co.
2002)
This source focuses on the invasion of Russia and the battle at Stalingrad
where Russia turned the tides and Germany faced an immense defeat.
Paul Roland, Nazis and the Occult, (London: Arcturus Publishing Limited 2012)
This source illustrated what occurred post war for Russia and the Allies,
including the Yalta conference.
Steinberg and Riasanovsky Nicolas, History of Russia, (New York: Oxford University
Press: 2011)
This source outlined Stalin’s rise to power, the Soviet Union beginnings and
early German interactions.

41
Stone David, The Soviet Union at War 1941-1945, (South Yorkshire, Great Britain: Pen &
Sword books 1988)
This primary source contains Soviet accounts on the war with Germany as well
and detailed information on important Russian battles and events during World
War Two.
Suny G. Ronald, The Soviet Experiment: Russia The USSR, and the Successor States (New
York: Oxford University Press 1998)
In this chapter Suny describes Soviet beginnings and how Stalin cultivated his
mass following.

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