The Nazi-Soviet Pact: What was in it for Germany

• During WWI Germany had fought a war on two fronts. The French and British attacked from the west while Russia attacked from the east. Germany had had to divide its troops to fight in two different directions, which had weakened the army and ultimately led to defeat
• Hitler was determined not to fight a war on two fronts again. He knew that, with every step he took towards achieving his foreign policy, war became more and more likely and Russia was a vast country with an equally vast army. He needed to take the Russians out of the equation
• Some historians have said that the Nazi-Soviet Pact made war inevitable. Hitler now knew that he could invade Poland without facing a war on two fronts
• After Hitler had broken the Munich Agreement and invaded Czechoslovakia, Britain and France realised that the policy of appeasement wasn't working and vowed to protect Poland if Hitler invaded, which he surely would
• The pact also meant that when war did break out, Britain and France would face Germany without the support of Russia. The mighty Soviet army would instead side with the Nazis, which meant that Hitler had the upper hand
• The pact persuaded Britain that war was imminent. They formalised their previous agreement with Poland. If Hitler invaded Poland, Britain would fight