German-Soviet relations

German-Soviet relations between 1939 and 1941 were characterized by a complex mix of cooperation and conflict. Initially, the two nations signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty that included a secret protocol to divide Eastern Europe. This agreement allowed Germany to invade Poland without fearing Soviet intervention, and the USSR gained territory in the east. However, in 1941, Germany broke the pact by launching Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union. This shift marked a transition from clandestine cooperation to open conflict, significantly impacting the course of World War II.