Question

Why the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was such a surprise to the world.

Answer 1

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was a surprise because it went against the historical animosity between the Nazi regime and the Soviet Union, allowed Hitler to avoid a two-front war, and strategically divided Eastern Europe.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, also known as the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, was a surprise to the world for several reasons:

1. **It went against the historical animosity** between the fascist Nazi regime and the communist Soviet Union. Hitler's fascist ideology had called for the elimination of communism, so the fact that he signed a pact with Stalin was unexpected.
2. **It allowed Hitler to avoid a two-front war**. By securing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, Hitler could focus on invading Poland without having to worry about a simultaneous attack from the east. This gave Germany a significant military advantage.
3. **It strategically divided Eastern Europe**. The secret protocols of the pact included provisions to divide Poland between Germany and the USSR. This division of territory went against the principles of traditional diplomacy and shocked the international community.

Answer 2

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was such a surprise to the world because these two nations (Germany and Russia) had long been ideological enemies, due mostly to the fact that Hitler abhorred communism.