Sun, 03 May 2026 12:50:36 +0000

I) The Soviet Union and Germany: A Complex Historical Relationship The relationship between the Soviet Union and Germany stands as one of the most dramatic and consequential alliances—and conflicts—in 20th-century history. Spanning from fragile cooperation to outright war and a shifting Cold War rivalry, the interplay between these two powerful states shaped not only Eastern Europe but also the global geopolitical landscape. This article explores the dynamic history of the Soviet Union and Germany, from early tensions and wartime alliance to the Cold War divide. ### Early Encounters: From Mutual Suspicion to Non-Aggression Pact In the interwar period, the Soviet Union and Germany were wary of each other. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 had alarmed conservative German elites, while Nazi ideology fiercely opposed communism. However, mutual strategic interests eventually led to diplomatic normalization. In 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact—officially the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact—was signed, surprising the world. It included secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of influence, paving the way for the invasion of Poland.