Tsar Nicholas II was the last ruler of Russia. He was also the king of Poland and the leader of Finland.
During World War I, he tried to lead the Russian army but wasn't good at it. This caused Russia to lose many battles.
People were suffering because of money problems, not enough food, and the government being dishonest. This made people angry and led to Czar Nicholas II being overthrown.
The Bolsheviks were a group that broke away from the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). Vladimir Lenin was their leader.
They were a communist party that started the USSR (Soviet Union).
Vladimir Lenin:
He led the Bolshevik Revolution and became the first leader of Soviet Russia.
People thought he was a smart leader.
Joseph Stalin:
He became the dictator (leader with total power) of the Soviet Union after Lenin.
He was a harsh leader who caused many people to die, even his own people.
Lenin vs. Stalin:
Lenin was a thinker and more realistic.
Stalin was a brutal dictator who controlled people through fear.
This was an agreement signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939.
It was a promise not to attack each other.
The agreement allowed Germany and the Soviet Union to take over more land without fighting.
But it ended when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941.
Taking Land:
Both countries wanted to divide up Eastern Europe so they could control more land.
No Fighting:
Germany and the Soviet Union promised not to attack each other. This allowed them to focus on their own plans.
Buying Time:
Both countries wanted more time to get ready for possible future wars. The Soviet Union needed to make its defenses stronger against Germany.
Advantage:
This agreement helped both sides avoid fighting while they worked on their plans, especially in Poland.
The Bolsheviks took control in 1917 (they were a communist party).
The Bolsheviks wanted to spread communism.
They became friends with Germany to help them do this.
Germany became allies with them to avoid fighting a war on two fronts (so they could invade Poland).
The agreement ended in less than 2 years when Germany decided to invade Russia.
Germany took over Russia to get rid of the communist threat because Germany was fascist (a political system with strong central control).
They wanted to take over the land for Germans to live there permanently.
The map shows:
Greater Germany (Germany's increased territory)
German Annexations (land taken over by Germany)
Axis Alignment (countries that sided with Germany)
Soviet Annexations (land taken over by the Soviet Union)
German-Soviet Demarcation Line (the line dividing the areas controlled by Germany and the Soviet Union)
It let Germany do what it wanted because the USSR was communist and wouldn't try to make Germany communist.
This allowed Germany to attack other countries, which eventually led to war.
The agreement is seen as bad because it made Germany more aggressive and allowed them to invade Poland.
It helped start World War II.
The agreement also caused many people to suffer in the countries that were taken over.