DISINFO: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact did not pave the way for the outbreak of the Second World War
SUMMARY
The statement from MEPs that the Second World War began because of the signing of the Non-aggression Treaty between Germany and the USSR on 23 August 1939 has nothing to do with history.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about World War Two and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It is a part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism and an attempt to portray Russia's role in World War II as non-aggressive. The "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact" was accompanied by a secret supplementary protocol on the delimitation of areas of mutual interest in Eastern Europe. In particular, Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland. The agreement also indicated that the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, as well as Bessarabia and Finland, also belonged to the respective areas of interest of Germany and the USSR. Just a week after the signing of the Pact, the German attack on Poland started World War II. Two weeks later, Soviet troops entered Polish territory. See similar cases here, here, here, here and here Read more about the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact here.