4. The Nazi-Soviet Pact
With hindsight, it is strange to think that Hitler and Stalin once cooperated with each other. Granted, their cooperation did result in their joint annexation of Poland, yet the very thought of these fiercest of foes signing an agreement with one another seems a tad peculiar. Two years before Nazi tanks rolled into Russia as part of Operation Barbarossa, Stalin and Hitler had signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact. The agreement divided Poland in two, (half would be occupied by Germany, the other by Russia) and acted as an assurance for Stalin that Hitler would not wager war against him. Clearly, from Stalin's perspective, the pact failed. Though many interpret Stalin's decision to ally with Hitler as an attempt to buy time to further develop and organise his army, rather than avoid war completely. Regardless of motive however, the signing of this pact with the 'enemy' outraged Britain and France, who earlier that year had entered into their own alliance system with the Russians. Stalin's decision to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact was made in total disregard for this alliance system as their main priority was to protect Poland from a Nazi invasion.