Main Reasons
- Non-aggression Pact:
Germany wanted to invade Poland and had previously signed the Munich Agreement with Britain, France, and Italy, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.
On the other hand, the Soviet Union desired security and recognition in Eastern Europe, as it feared German aggression and expansionism.
- Expansionist Ambitions:
Both Germany and the Soviet Union shared territorial ambitions in Eastern Europe. The pact created a secret protocol dividing Poland between them.
- Avoiding a Second Front:
Hitler sought to secure Germany’s eastern borders to focus on fighting the western Allies. Similarly, Stalin aimed to delay a potential clash with Germany and gain time to modernize the Soviet military and strengthen its strategic position.
- Influence and Resources:
By entering the pact, the Soviet Union gained access to German technology, industrial equipment, and a source of raw materials, while Germany benefited from Soviet oil, grain, and other resources needed for war production.