The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty/Operation Barbarossa
Student Webquest
Introduction:
In the summer of 1939, control of most of central Europe belonged to Hitler and Nazi Germany. Having already taken Czechoslovakia and Austria, Hitler began to turn his attention to the “breadbasket” of Eastern Europe and started to plan how he could gain control of the nation’s there. However, the Sovit Union, a traditional enemy of Germany, stood in the way of further conquests. If Hitler attempted to conquer any territory further east, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator, would certainly declare war on Germany.
There was a solution, however – if Germany could get the Soviet Union to agree to a non-aggression treaty, Stalin would stay out of the way of Hitler’s territorial conquests. The Soviets and Germans reached an agreement in August, 1939. Within days of signing the treaty, Hitler invaded Poland. At the same time, the Soviets invaded Poland from the east, and the Nazis and Soviets divided the country between themselves.
However, in 1941, Hitler tore up the non-aggression treaty and invaded the Soviet Union. This turned out to be a costly error, however, because he was unable to force the Soviets to surrender, and nearly 100,000 of his men were either killed or froze to death in the harsh Soviet winter. It was a major blow to German chances to win the war.
Directions:
Treaty of Non-Aggression Between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Go to http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/nonagres.asp and read the text of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression treaty. Answer the following questions:
1. Approximately how much time elapsed from the signing of the Non-Aggression Treaty to the German invasion of the Soviet Union?
2. In the preface to the Non-Aggression treaty, it is stated that the two sides are “desirous” of something. What is it?
3. What do the two “High Contracting Parties” obligate themselves to do in Article I of the Treaty?
4. What promises to both sides make in Article 5
5. How long was the “term” of the treaty?
Molotov: Reaction to German Invasion of 1941
Go to http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1941molotov.html and read the statement of Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov announcing that German troops have invaded the Soviet Union.
6. In Molotov’s statement announcing the German invasion of the Soviet Union, describe when and where the invasion occurs.
7. What mention of the Non-Aggression Treaty does Molotov make?
8. Give three descriptions of how Molotov describes the German attack and Hitler.
9. How does Molotov describe the Soviet army, government, and people? Give at least three examples.
10. How does Molotov try to rally the patriotism of the Soviet people?
11. Speculate what the outcome of the war might have been had Hitler not invaded the Soviet Union. What would the relationship between the German and the Soviet Union have been had Hitler honored the treaty?