On August 23, 1939, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi Germany’s Foreign Minister, and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, signed the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact, a deal that would profoundly alter the course of history. Infamously known as the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, this agreement included a secret protocol that led to the Fourth Partition of Poland and set the stage for World War II.
The secret protocol outlined four critical points. It established spheres of influence in the Baltic States, with Lithuania’s northern border demarcating the German and Soviet zones. The protocol also addressed Poland, stipulating that in the event of territorial changes, the dividing line between German and Soviet interests would align with the Narew, Vistula, and San rivers, leaving Poland’s future boundaries and independence to be determined later.
In South-Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union’s interest in Bessarabia was acknowledged, while Germany showed no interest in the region. The final provision of the protocol mandated strict confidentiality between the two powers regarding the agreement’s contents.
Remembering the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact: A Catalyst for World War II and Its Enduring Impact on Europe
This pact had dire consequences, leading to the invasion of Poland and the onset of World War II. The European Parliament now observes August 23 as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, reflecting on the severe impact of the pact on Central and Eastern Europe, which faced years of oppression and conflict.
Despite the early awareness of the secret protocol by leaders of Britain, France, and the United States, this crucial information was withheld from Polish authorities, leaving Poland vulnerable. The Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact remains a stark reminder of the destructive alliance between two of the 20th century’s most authoritarian regimes and their lasting impact on global history.