Chapter 14 Kissinger

When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?

August 23, 1939

Who were the key diplomatic figures involved in negotiating the pact?

Vyacheslav Molotov (Soviet Foreign Minister) and Joachim von Ribbentrop (German Foreign Minister)

What was the primary purpose of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?

To ensure mutual non-aggression and divide Eastern Europe into spheres of influence

What was Hitler's main strategic goal in signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

To neutralize the threat of a two-front war and focus on conquering Western Europe

How did Hitler view the Soviet Union in his long-term plans?

As an eventual target for conquest and territorial expansion

What resources did Hitler hope to gain from cooperation with the Soviet Union?

Raw materials and supplies to sustain Germany's war effort

What territorial gains did Stalin seek through the pact?

Control over territories in Eastern Europe, including parts of Poland, Lithuania, and Baltic states

Why did Stalin believe the pact was beneficial?

To buy time to strengthen Soviet military and prepare for a potential future conflict

How did Stalin misjudge Hitler's intentions?

He believed Hitler would not risk a two-front war, despite mounting evidence of German military buildup

When did Molotov visit Berlin?

November 1940

What were Molotov's main objectives during the Berlin negotiations?

To secure Soviet influence in the Balkans and expand Soviet control in Eastern Europe

What specific demands did Molotov make during his Berlin visit?

Control over Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, military bases in the Dardanelles, and guarantees of Japanese neutrality

What key resources did the Soviet Union provide to Germany?

Oil, grain, rubber, and manganese

How did economic cooperation between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union continue despite tensions?

Stalin continued to supply Germany with raw materials even as tensions mounted

When did Germany launch Operation Barbarossa?

June 22, 1941

Why did Hitler decide to invade the Soviet Union?

He saw the USSR as an ultimate ideological and military adversary, and believed in conquering "Lebensraum" (living space)

How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact ultimately fail?

It was a temporary alliance that collapsed when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941

What major miscalculation did Stalin make about Hitler?

He continued to believe Hitler would not risk a two-front war, leaving the Soviet Union unprepared for invasion

How did ideology play into the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Despite fundamental ideological differences, both sides prioritized strategic interests over ideology

What principle of international relations did the pact demonstrate?

Realpolitik - the prioritization of practical considerations over ideological principles

How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact impact the early stages of World War II?

It enabled Hitler to focus on conquering Western Europe without worrying about the Eastern Front

What territories were divided in the secret protocol of the pact?

Eastern Europe, including Poland, Baltic states, and parts of Romania

How did Western powers react to the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

The pact shocked the world, especially given the ideological rift between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union

What was the ultimate fate of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

It was shattered by Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, which unleashed a devastating conflict

How can the Nazi-Soviet Pact be characterized in historical terms?

A brief interlude of uneasy cooperation that ultimately proved to be an illusion