1. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (1939):
- The most significant example of Soviet assistance to Nazi Germany was the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on August 23, 1939. This non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany included secret protocols that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. This agreement allowed Germany to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, without fear of Soviet intervention, directly leading to the outbreak of World War II.
2. Soviet Invasion of Poland (1939):
- Following the German invasion of Poland from the west, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, 1939, as agreed upon in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This invasion effectively split Poland between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, leading to the destruction of the Polish state.
3. Economic and Material Support:
- From 1939 to 1941, the Soviet Union provided Nazi Germany with critical resources, including grain, oil, and other raw materials, which were vital to the German war effort. This support helped sustain the German military during the early years of the war, particularly during the invasions of Western Europe.
4. Training and Military Cooperation:
- Prior to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in the 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet Union and Germany cooperated in military training and development. This cooperation allowed Germany to secretly develop military technologies and tactics in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. While this cooperation was not specific to the Nazi regime, it laid the groundwork for later military strategies.
5. Joint Occupation of Eastern Europe:
- After the invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany engaged in joint efforts to suppress resistance in occupied territories. Both regimes implemented brutal measures against the local populations, including mass arrests, deportations, and executions.
6. Baltic States Occupation (1940):
- The Soviet Union, under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, occupied and annexed the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in 1940. This expansion further stabilized Germany's eastern front by removing potential threats and securing resources.
7. Delayed Confrontation:
- The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact effectively delayed a direct military confrontation between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany until June 1941, when Germany violated the pact by launching Operation Barbarossa. This delay allowed Germany to focus its military efforts on Western Europe without worrying about an immediate Soviet threat.
8. Propaganda and Diplomatic Cooperation:
- During the period of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet and Nazi propaganda downplayed ideological differences and promoted the idea of peaceful coexistence. This cooperation helped maintain stability between the two powers until Germany turned on the Soviet Union.
These points highlight how, despite their ideological differences, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany cooperated in the early years of World War II, a relationship that had significant consequences for the course of the war. This cooperation abruptly ended when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, turning the two former partners into mortal enemies.
