What was the nature of the agreement known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, officially known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was primarily a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, signed on August 23, 1939. This agreement ensured that the two nations would not attack each other or support any attack against one another for the duration of the pact. The significance of this pact was profound, as it allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention, effectively dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two powers.

The non-aggression element of the pact was crucial for both nations at that moment. For Nazi Germany, it provided a strategic security guarantee on its eastern border while it prepared to launch its military campaigns in the west. For the Soviet Union, it was an opportunity to regain territory lost in World War I and extend its influence without immediate conflict with Germany.

While the pact included a secret protocol that outlined the division of Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence, the primary focus and most widely recognized aspect of the agreement was its commitment to non-aggression. This pivotal agreement greatly influenced the course of World War II until its eventual breakdown in 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union.