The Importance of the Nazi–Soviet Pact (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
The USSR's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact
The Versailles Settlement created the Polish Corridor
This gave Poland access to the sea
It cut Germany’s territory into two separate areas
After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, it was clear that Hitler would attempt to gain the Polish Corridor for Germany
Hitler and Stalin (the leader of the USSR) were enemies because:
They believed in opposite ideologies
Hitler was Fascist. This is a far right-wing belief
Stalin was Communist. This is a far left-wing belief
They had different aims for Europe
Hitler wanted Germany to dominate Europe
Stalin wanted to gain land to implement communism
They had fought on opposite sides in the Spanish Civil War
Hitler had supported General Franco and the right-wing rebels
Stalin had sent equipment to the left-wing government
On 23rd August 1939, Germany and the USSR formed the Nazi-Soviet Pact
It is also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The signing of the pact shocked the world
Why Did Stalin Sign the Pact?
Worked Example
Explain why Stalin entered the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939
6 marks
Partial answer:
One reason why Stalin entered the Nazi-Soviet Pact was to give him time to rearm (1). The pact would mean Germany would focus on fighting with Britain and France rather than the USSR (1). This was a big motivation for Stalin to sign the pact. This is because he could focus Soviet industry on producing armaments. He knew that Hitler would break the pact to pursue Lebensraum (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In Paper One, ‘explain why’ questions are worth either six or ten marks. For full marks in this question, an examiner is looking for two fully explained reasons as to why Stalin entered the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Use the PEE structure in your answer:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence caused Stalin to sign the pact. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor motivated Stalin to side with Hitler rather than stand up against him.
Germany's Aims for the Nazi-Soviet Pact
Hitler sent a telegram to Stalin on 20th August asking for the pact. This was surprising because:
The USSR had a large Jewish population
It was a common, but incorrect, belief that many Soviet communists were Jewish
Hitler considered the Slavs, people who lived in Eastern Europe, as subhuman
Taking the USSR’s territory was necessary to fulfil Hitler’s foreign policy aim of Lebensraum
Why Did Hitler Sign the Pact?
Terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact
Date | Terms | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
August 1939 |
|
|
Other Alliances - Anti-Comintern Pact
By the time of signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact, Hitler had entered into other alliances that strengthened his position
In 1936, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact
Date | Terms | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
November 1936 |
|
|
Other Alliances - The Pact of Steel
Germany and Italy entered into a formal alliance called the Pact of Steel in 1939
Its formal name is the Pact of Friendship and Alliance
The two countries had signed a friendship treaty in 1936 dubbed the Rome-Berlin Axis
Date | Terms | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
May 1939 |
|
|
How Did Other Alliances Influence the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
Stalin became increasingly worried about the power of Fascism
Japan was an old enemy of Russia
Japan had beaten Russia in a war in 1904
Japanese-controlled Manchuria bordered the USSR
The Nazi-Soviet Pact would give Stalin temporary protection from Japan and Germany
The pact was doomed to fail
The Anti-Comintern Pact made it clear that Hitler did not support Communism
In 1941, Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet Pact by invading Russia in Operation Barbarossa
Worked Example
Study Source A. What impressions does Source A give of the relationship between Hitler and Mussolini? Explain your answer using details of the source
7 marks
Source A: From a history book published in 1981 In March 1938, Hitler marched into Austria after notifying Rome only at the very last moment. Italy thus lost the immense advantage of having only a weak buffer state on her northern frontier. Having often promised that he would fight to defend Austrian independence, now in March Mussolini protested he had never said anything so foolish. Hitler had been careful not to tell Mussolini of his plans to extend Germany’s living space and calculated that, as Italy had its hands full in Spain, he could meanwhile take Austria and Czechoslovakia, possibly without offering his partner anything in return. He had gradually been displacing Italy in the commerce of south-eastern Europe. Mussolini was seriously worried and occasionally he spoke of changing sides in Europe. He still hoped to ride several horses at once but such behaviour was irresponsible, unrealistic and hardly that of a potential ally. |
Partial answer:
Source A suggests that Mussolini was worried about his relationship with Hitler (1). The source discusses that, when Hitler enacted Anschluss, he did not inform Mussolini until “the very last moment”. Italy bordered Austria and had promised to protect Austrian independence from Hitler (1). Therefore, the source proves that Anschluss made Mussolini question their relationship with Hitler. He may have needed more reassurance from Hitler which may have motivated Mussolini to enter the Pact of Steel with Germany in 1939 (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In this style of question in Paper Two, ensure you read the source carefully. You need to understand the source to discover what the source suggests about Hitler and Mussolini’s relationship. To help you, highlight and annotate important sections of the source. You can also add key knowledge around the quote to plan how you will answer the question.
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