Changes

[[Image:P80 6.jpg|thumb|225px|Stalin and Von Ribbentrop at the signing of the non-aggression pact]]

[[Image:P80 6.jpg|thumb|225px|Stalin and Von Ribbentrop at the signing of the non-aggression pact]]

[[File:German-Soviet invasion of Poland.jpg|thumb|225px|A Nazi German and Soviet Communist officer shake hands after their successful invasion of Poland in September 1939.]]

[[File:German-Soviet invasion of Poland.jpg|thumb|225px|A Nazi German and Soviet Communist officer shake hands after their successful invasion of Poland in September 1939.]]

The '''Molotov-Ribbentrop pact''' (formally the ''Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'', also called the '''Hitler-Stalin pact''', '''Nazi-Soviet pact''' and '''Communazi pact''') was a treaty between [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]], in the opening days of [[World War II]]. Some portions of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact remained in force until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The '''Molotov-Ribbentrop pact''' (formally the ''Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'', also called the '''Hitler-Stalin pact''', '''Nazi-Soviet pact''' and '''Communazi pact''') was a treaty between [[Third Reich|Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]], in the opening days of [[World War II]]. Some portions of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact remained in force until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

While Moscow had been negotiating this treaty with Berlin, the Soviets were fighting a major campaign against [[Hitler]]'s ally Japan. [[Stalin]] feared a two-front war against Germany and Japan. Representing the Soviets was foreign minister [[Vyacheslav Molotov]], and representing the Nazis was foreign minister [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]]. The treaty was signed on August 23, 1939, three days after the start of the Battle of [[Mongolia#Khalkhin Gol|Khalkhin-Gol]] between the Soviet Union and Japan. In mid-September, Tokyo signed a non-aggression pact with Moscow. After the Eastern border was secure Stalin then invaded Poland on 17 September 1939.<ref>Jerrold and Leona Schecter, ''Sacred Secrets:  How Soviet Intelligence Operations Changed American History'', Washington, DC: Brassey’s, 2002, pg. 12.</ref>  

While Moscow had been negotiating this treaty with Berlin, the Soviets were fighting a major campaign against [[Hitler]]'s ally Japan. [[Stalin]] feared a two-front war against Germany and Japan. Representing the Soviets was foreign minister [[Vyacheslav Molotov]], and representing the Nazis was foreign minister [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]]. The treaty was signed on August 23, 1939, three days after the start of the Battle of [[Mongolia#Khalkhin Gol|Khalkhin-Gol]] between the Soviet Union and Japan. In mid-September, Tokyo signed a non-aggression pact with Moscow. After the Eastern border was secure Stalin then invaded Poland on 17 September 1939.<ref>Jerrold and Leona Schecter, ''Sacred Secrets:  How Soviet Intelligence Operations Changed American History'', Washington, DC: Brassey’s, 2002, pg. 12.</ref>