Artyom Krechetnikov and Steven Eke: The 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact
[Artyom Krechetnikov and Steven Eke work for the BBC's Russian Service]
The 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact is controversial even today, with historians divided over its importance. In the first of a series of articles marking the outbreak of World War II 70 years ago, the BBC Russian Service's Artyom Krechetnikov and Steven Eke analyse the significance of a treaty that helped set the scene for war.
Signed on 23 August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was accompanied by a secret protocol that detailed the reshaping of Europe's map.
Substantive talks on forming a political alliance between Nazi Germany and the USSR had begun that month.
They built on earlier discussions aimed at boosting economic co-operation, and were accompanied by military and even cultural co-operation in the form of exchanges of high-profile delegations.
The pact was signed by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and his Russian counterpart, Vyacheslav Molotov, in Moscow.
It led to the carving-up of Poland between Nazi Germany and the USSR, as well as the annexation by the USSR of eastern Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and northern Romania.
The western parts of Ukraine and Belarus, formerly Polish territory, were also incorporated into the Soviet Union.
At that point, believe some historians, a war in Europe became unavoidable.
Why Russia signed the pact
Soviet historical approaches currently in favour with Russia's modern-day leadership suggest the treaty:
1.Allowed the USSR to delay the onset of war with Nazi Germany
2. Allowed the Soviet border to be moved 200km or more to the west, greatly boosting the subsequent defence efforts against Nazi aggression
3. Allowed Russia to take under its defence the"blood-brother peoples" - the Ukrainians and Belarussians
4. Prevented an"anti-Soviet alliance" between the West and Nazi Germany
The records of the politburo meeting held on 19 August 1939 show that Stalin believed that war with Germany could be avoided, should the USSR form an anti-Nazi alliance with Britain and France.
But, he warned,"the subsequent development of events after that would be unfavourable to the Soviet Union".
He told his colleagues that Germany was prepared to offer the USSR" complete freedom of action in the three Baltic countries", and hinted that Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary would be ceded to the USSR as a"zone of influence".
At the same time, talks between the USSR, Britain and France over a co-ordinated response in the event of an attack by Nazi Germany, floundered.
Britain and France would not acquiesce to a key Soviet demand, namely that Soviet troops be allowed free passage across Poland...
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The 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact is controversial even today, with historians divided over its importance. In the first of a series of articles marking the outbreak of World War II 70 years ago, the BBC Russian Service's Artyom Krechetnikov and Steven Eke analyse the significance of a treaty that helped set the scene for war.
Signed on 23 August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was accompanied by a secret protocol that detailed the reshaping of Europe's map.
Substantive talks on forming a political alliance between Nazi Germany and the USSR had begun that month.
They built on earlier discussions aimed at boosting economic co-operation, and were accompanied by military and even cultural co-operation in the form of exchanges of high-profile delegations.
The pact was signed by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and his Russian counterpart, Vyacheslav Molotov, in Moscow.
It led to the carving-up of Poland between Nazi Germany and the USSR, as well as the annexation by the USSR of eastern Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and northern Romania.
The western parts of Ukraine and Belarus, formerly Polish territory, were also incorporated into the Soviet Union.
At that point, believe some historians, a war in Europe became unavoidable.
Why Russia signed the pact
Soviet historical approaches currently in favour with Russia's modern-day leadership suggest the treaty:
1.Allowed the USSR to delay the onset of war with Nazi Germany
2. Allowed the Soviet border to be moved 200km or more to the west, greatly boosting the subsequent defence efforts against Nazi aggression
3. Allowed Russia to take under its defence the"blood-brother peoples" - the Ukrainians and Belarussians
4. Prevented an"anti-Soviet alliance" between the West and Nazi Germany
The records of the politburo meeting held on 19 August 1939 show that Stalin believed that war with Germany could be avoided, should the USSR form an anti-Nazi alliance with Britain and France.
But, he warned,"the subsequent development of events after that would be unfavourable to the Soviet Union".
He told his colleagues that Germany was prepared to offer the USSR" complete freedom of action in the three Baltic countries", and hinted that Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary would be ceded to the USSR as a"zone of influence".
At the same time, talks between the USSR, Britain and France over a co-ordinated response in the event of an attack by Nazi Germany, floundered.
Britain and France would not acquiesce to a key Soviet demand, namely that Soviet troops be allowed free passage across Poland...