Such weird times…Jews supporting genocide, Russians supporting Nazi regime…
(yes, I know, neither all Jews nor all Russians support the respective things, and yes, it’s important to keep in mind to not be manipulated, if nothing else)
Nazi Germany and Russia were very much on friendly terms for a while. After the Spanish civil war they even made a cooperative pact to divide eastern Europe between them. Relations only took a nosedive after the Nazis attacked Russia.
And they attacked early because they were so far behind on their contractual payments that they couldn’t make excuses anymore while the last Soviet train with goods had to drive through the Wehrmacht getting into position.
Friendly is a stretch, but they certainly did agree to spheres of influence, which was the style at the time.
It is worth noting Germany had already reshaped Eastern Europe. I think Poland, Yugoslavia, and Greece were the only countries whose borders hadn’t already been altered or erased by what would become Axis powers. The Soviet response to Germany’s sudden request for non-aggression was more of a “We’ll believe it when we see it” type deal.
The pact was, in essence, calling the British and French’s bluff about guaranteeing Poland and Romanian Independence.
It broke the confidence of the Allied powers that they could let the Nazis and Soviets grind themselves up without getting directly involved.
Such weird times…Jews supporting genocide, Russians supporting Nazi regime…
(yes, I know, neither all Jews nor all Russians support the respective things, and yes, it’s important to keep in mind to not be manipulated, if nothing else)
Nazi Germany and Russia were very much on friendly terms for a while. After the Spanish civil war they even made a cooperative pact to divide eastern Europe between them. Relations only took a nosedive after the Nazis attacked Russia.
Fair point
And they attacked early because they were so far behind on their contractual payments that they couldn’t make excuses anymore while the last Soviet train with goods had to drive through the Wehrmacht getting into position.
Friendly is a stretch, but they certainly did agree to spheres of influence, which was the style at the time.
It is worth noting Germany had already reshaped Eastern Europe. I think Poland, Yugoslavia, and Greece were the only countries whose borders hadn’t already been altered or erased by what would become Axis powers. The Soviet response to Germany’s sudden request for non-aggression was more of a “We’ll believe it when we see it” type deal.
The pact was, in essence, calling the British and French’s bluff about guaranteeing Poland and Romanian Independence.
It broke the confidence of the Allied powers that they could let the Nazis and Soviets grind themselves up without getting directly involved.