Nazi-Soviet relations

Nazi-Soviet relations were marked by a complex interaction of cooperation and conflict between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Initially, in 1939, they signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty that included secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. This allowed both nations to expand their territories without immediate conflict. However, in 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, breaking the pact. The ensuing brutal conflict on the Eastern Front became a significant part of World War II, deeply influencing the war's outcome and shaping post-war Europe.