Nazi-Soviet Pact, 1939 Nazis and Communists were bitter enemies. But Hitler and Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, did not want to fight each other yet. So they signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact
in 1939. ● ● They agreed to a ten-year non-aggression pact (they agreed not to attack each other) ●● They also secretly agreed to divide Poland between them
The pact meant that Hitler could attack Poland without having to fight the Soviet Union. It also meant that Stalin could prepare for a future war with Hitler.
LSource 13 LSource 14
18
Soviet cartoon (1939): Chamberlain (Britain) and Daladier
(France) direct Hitler away from their own countries towards the USSR (CCCP)
Does the cartoon in Source 13
explain why Stalin and the Soviet Union made a pact with Hitler?
The Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor separated Germany from one of its provinces, East Prussia. Hitler demanded the return of the Polish Corridor but the Polish government refused. Britain and France supported Poland. However, Hitler believed they were too far away and would not be able to help Poland. He declared war on Poland on 1 September 1939.
1. What symbols are used in the cartoon in Source 14?
2. Does this cartoon expect that Germany and the Soviet Union will still go to war in spite of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
3. How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact contribute to the causes of World War II?
