The Nazi-Soviet Pact

Stalin was a Russian dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953. Though he grew up poor with an abusive father, under his direction, Russia was transformed from impoverished to a global superpower. He is well known for ruling with fear and violence, having killed millions of his citizens during his reign, but few people realize his great contributions during World War II. Joseph Stalin’s ignorant commands causing thousands of soldiers of the Red Army to be defeated during Operation Barbarossa, his act of signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact thus allowing the beginning of World War Two, and his series of counter-attacks at Stalingrad and Kursk in 1941, diminishing the power of German army forces, make Stalin a defining

Though Germany rearmed in 1933, already preparing for a war, other countries were careful not to instigate a fight, even when Germany took over the Rhineland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia throughout 1938-1939 for the reason of appeasement, hope that this would please Hitler and prevent the beginning of a war. For this same reason, Stalin agreed to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August of 1939. The Nazi-Soviet Pact, also known as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact, was a promise between Russia and Germany that they would not harm each other if the war occurred. After Stalin signed the peace agreement, Hitler understood that he would no longer need to fear attacks from the USSR, and could begin getting serious, launching a Blitzkrieg (lightning war) on Poland, consequently beginning World War Two. This demonstrates how Stalin was a major catalyst to World War Two, effectively starting the war. Despite this being a negative action with poor consequences, Stalin’s later contributions helped the effort against

When the German troops broke the conditions of the Nazi-Soviet Pact by advancing into Russian territory in June of 1941, Stalin originally froze into a nervous breakdown, unable to command his Red Army, but soon recovered within weeks. The Russian government had fled Moscow, but Stalin remained in the Kremlin, the fortified complex in the heart of Moscow. Regaining control, Stalin moved industrial plants from the European USSR and into the eastern side, far from German invasions. Competent military commanders were allowed to take control of important strategic positions, and Soviet ports accepted increasing qualities of lend-lease products, in which Russia received resources and supplies from the United States and other Western Powers. During this, Stalin also helped forge a strong sense of nationalism in the Russian people. In December of June 1941, Germany was pushed out of their positions around Moscow with counter-offensives at Stalingrad and Kursk. By late 1944, Soviet forces had entered Europe and by April 1945, launched an attack on Berlin.. It was largely due to Stalin’s regained courage that the attacks were launched. This turned the defensive on Germany, and weakening Germany ultimately caused the ending of World War, when they were forced to retreat after the defeat of