Fact Check: Is this true that Nazi Germany has been allies with USSR in the beginning of WWII

Fact Check: "Is it true that Nazi Germany was allied with the USSR in the beginning of WWII?"

What We Know

The claim that Nazi Germany and the USSR were allied at the beginning of World War II is supported by historical evidence regarding the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, signed on August 23, 1939. This treaty, officially known as the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, established a mutual agreement wherein both nations pledged not to attack each other for a period of ten years. Additionally, the pact included a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, allowing both countries to invade and partition Poland shortly after the pact was signed (Wikipedia, Britannica).

The pact was a significant diplomatic maneuver, as it allowed Hitler to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, without fearing a Soviet intervention. Following this, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, 1939, further solidifying their temporary alliance (U.S. State Department, Holocaust Encyclopedia).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, as multiple credible sources confirm the existence and implications of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. For instance, the pact is described as a "non-aggression pact" that facilitated the invasion of Poland by both powers, marking the beginning of World War II (Facing History, World History Encyclopedia).

However, it is essential to note that this alliance was not based on mutual trust or shared ideologies; rather, it was a strategic maneuver by both regimes. The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany had been ideological enemies prior to this agreement, and the pact was seen as a temporary measure to further their respective territorial ambitions (Wikipedia, U.S. State Department).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they are well-established historical references. Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview, while the U.S. State Department and Britannica are authoritative sources that detail the historical context and significance of the pact.

Conclusion

The claim that Nazi Germany and the USSR were allies at the beginning of World War II is True. The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact marked a significant moment in history, allowing both nations to collaborate temporarily for their strategic interests, particularly in the invasion and partition of Poland. This alliance, however, was short-lived, as it ended with Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.

Sources

1. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - Wikipedia
2. U.S.-Soviet Alliance, 1941–1945
3. Soviet Union in World War II
4. German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact | History, Facts, & Significance
5. German-Soviet Pact | Holocaust Encyclopedia
6. A Sinister Alliance: Soviet-German Relations 1939-1941
7. Nazi-Soviet Pact: Alliance Shaping Early World War II Dynamics
8. Nazi-Soviet Pact - World History Encyclopedia