Critical Details of the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact

Critical Details of the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact Known at the time by the last names of the foreign ministers of the two nations who signed it, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a nonaggression treaty between Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union, signed on August 24, 1939. It remained in effect until June of 1941. According to most German historians, Hitler never intended to honor the treaty. However, Russian scholars cite strong evidence that until he died, Stalin believed it was because he neglected to write a timely thank-you note to Hitler after the German leader lent him a movie projector. Though the treaty centered around the agreement that neither nation would attack one another and would divide Eastern Europe evenly following the war, those were by no means the only stipulations. The following is the complete list, the failure of which helped bring 19th century-style diplomacy to a close: 1. Neither Germany nor the Soviet Union will engage in hostilities against the other. 2. Following the War for German Economic Independence and Liberty, the nations of Eastern Europe will be evenly divided between the Soviet Union and the German Empire. 3. An annual conference will take place between the two nations at which Chancellor Hitler must agree to sit next to Premier Stalin at meals if Premier Stalin is seen sitting by himself. 4. Chancellor Hitler must make it clear to Italian leader Bonito Mussolini that although Chancellor Hitler and Mr. Mussolini are friends, the Chancellor likes Premier Stalin best. 5. The Soviet leader and his high command are entitled to move through German territory to reach the “good beaches” on the Baltic Sea during the summer months where they are allowed to stay until at least sundown and have a campfire. 6. In all official propaganda broadcasts Chancellor Hitler agrees to refer to Premier Stalin as his “great friend and trusted ally” and refer to Japanese leader Hideki Tojo as his “Asian associate.” 7. The German state will ensure that no individual in the German Empire 1) degrades; 2) makes light of; or 3) mentions Premier Stalin’s height, which will be publicly advertised as being 6’11”. 8. In the event a meeting in Germany between the two leaders takes longer than 12 hours, Premier Stalin is entitled to spend the night in the same building as Chancellor Hitler no further than one bedroom away; [addendum: Chancellor Hitler must stay up late with Premier Stalin talking or playing board games]. 9. If a summit meeting takes place in the Soviet Union, Chancellor Hitler agrees to attend three (3) public functions with Premier Stalin that DO NOT involve playing any competitive sports or require the Premier to run. 10. If Great Britain moves to aid the French, Premier Stalin will allocate 1.5 million Soviet troops for German forces to use as ramparts on French beaches. 11. If British or French troops invade any part of the Soviet Union, the German state agrees to come to Soviet aid; German forces may weigh down up to five million Soviet peasants to fire out of artillery at the enemy. 12. Each Wednesday evening from 8:00 – 8:30pm when BBC broadcasts of “Outdoor Adventures” air on the radio, Chancellor Hitler agrees to call and remain on the phone with Premier Stalin for the duration of the program. The joyful and promising mood created by the treaty initially soured on December 24, 1940, when Chancellor Hitler called Mussolini before calling Premier Stalin to wish him a merry Christmas. The rest, as they say, is history.