The relationship between Stalin and Hitler was not one of friendship or ideological similarity, but rather one of the most cold, ruthless, and opportunistic political deals in history. They hated each other, yet they joined forces in times of need.
In the 1930s, Hitler was at the pinnacle of power in Germany and Stalin in the Soviet Union. Their ideologies were diametrically opposed. Hitler wanted to destroy communism, and Stalin wanted to destroy Nazi fascism. Despite this, in August 1939, the two countries entered into an agreement known in history as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This agreement was not merely a paper "non-aggression pact," but also contained a secret understanding.
Under this secret protocol, Eastern Europe was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union. Poland was divided. The Baltic countries fell into the Soviet sphere of influence. Borders were also drawn with Finland and Romania. This deal was purely a game of buying power and time.
What did Hitler gain from this? He was relieved of the worry of the Eastern Front before attacking Western Europe. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, beginning World War II. A few days later, the Soviet Army also occupied eastern Poland.
What did Stalin gain from this? It gave him time to prepare for war. The Red Army had been weakened after the Great Purge of 1937–38. Stalin knew a confrontation would ensue, but he wanted time. Furthermore, the Soviet Union gained strategic depth in Eastern Europe.
During this period, the two countries were also trading. The Soviet Union was supplying Germany with oil, grain, and raw materials, and in return, receiving machinery and technology from Germany. This fact still troubles many historians, as these resources later fueled the Nazi war machine.
But this relationship was based on deceit, not trust. Hitler never considered this agreement permanent. His book, Mein Kampf, clearly stated that Germany needed "Lebensraum," or living space, in the east, on Soviet soil.
On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union under Operation Barbarossa. This was the largest military invasion in history. Stalin was completely shocked. Many Soviet documents reveal that in the initial days, he was speechless, unable to believe that Hitler had broken the pact.
What followed was a full-scale war. The same two dictators who had briefly divided the world between them now set out to destroy each other. This war ultimately ended with Hitler's defeat and suicide, and Stalin's emergence as a superpower leader.
Historian Timothy Snyder (Bloodlands) writes that this temporary alliance between Hitler and Stalin proved disastrous for Eastern Europe, where their policies claimed millions of lives. Richard Overy (The Dictators) calls the two leaders "enemy twins," who followed different paths to similar brutality.
Historical analyses by the British newspapers The Guardian and The Times have also clearly stated that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was not a moral but a strategic crime, one that further escalated the war.
In short, the relationship between Stalin and Hitler was not based on trust, respect, or ideology. It was simply a game of buying time, gathering strength, and waiting for the right opportunity. As soon as the opportunity arose, they attacked each other, and the entire world paid the price.
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