September 28, 1939. German-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany. Secret additional protocol
On September 28, 1939, as a result of negotiations between the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR V. M. Molotov and the German Foreign Minister J. von Ribbentrop, an agreement on friendship and the border between the USSR and Germany was signed, around which political battles continue to this day. This agreement put an end to the diplomatic struggle that unfolded on the eve of World War II.
In the context of increasing international tension throughout 1939. Soviet Union tried to reach an agreement to ensure a joint rebuff of German aggression with England, France and other European countries. The evasive position of the leaders of Western democracies, who sought to pit the USSR and Germany against each other for their own benefit, forced the Soviet leadership to look for other ways to delay the war. On August 23, 1939, the USSR and Germany signed the famous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which guaranteed non-aggression by the parties against each other if one of them was involved in fighting.
The pact and the secret protocols signed with it freed the hands of Germany, which on September 1, 1939 invaded Poland and as soon as possible occupied her without any hindrance western regions. On September 17, Soviet troops were introduced into the territories of Western Ukraine and Western Belarus that were part of Poland. Thus, the division of spheres of influence between Germany and the USSR, provided for by secret protocols, was carried out. The agreement of September 28, 1939 and the secret protocols to it recorded the fact of the division of Poland and established the western border of the USSR.
On December 24, 1989, the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR gave a political and legal assessment of the treaties of August 23 and September 28, 1939. The congress recognized that the agreements were concluded in a critical international situation and were aimed at diverting the threat of impending war from the USSR. However, the secret protocols were signed in violation of legal norms, since they encroached on the sovereignty and independence of third countries, so the Congress declared them legally untenable and invalid from the moment of their signing.
Most modern scientists and politicians also critically evaluate the peace and border treaty of September 28, considering it a political mistake by the Soviet leadership, the consequences of which still negatively affect the country’s foreign policy.
Lit.: Documents foreign policy. 1939 T. 22. Book. 2. M., 1992. P. 134-136 (German-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany); The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/docs/da/dvp/22(2)/index.html ; Meltyukhov M.I. Stalin’s missed chance. The Soviet Union and the struggle for Europe: 1939–1941. M., 2000; The same [Electronic resource]. URL:http://militera.lib.ru/research/meltyukhov/03.html; On the political and legal assessment of the Soviet-German non-aggression treaty of 1939 // Gazette of the Council of People's Deputies and Supreme Council THE USSR. 1989. No. 29. Art. 579.
On September 1, 1939, Germany began military operations against Poland. In just 10 days, the resistance of the Polish army was broken along the entire length of the front. Commander-in-Chief Edward Rydz-Smigly gives the order for a general retreat, but it also fails to be carried out. Most of the troops are surrounded. The world will learn what "blitzkrieg" is.
On the morning of September 17, the Red Army crosses the Polish border. The day before, it was announced to the Polish Ambassador in Moscow that due to the fact that the Polish state had virtually ceased to exist, the USSR was taking under protection the population of Western Belarus and Western Ukraine. The "Liberation Campaign" begins. War is not even declared on a “non-existent” state. However, this state no longer has anything to fight with. And the Polish General Staff did not consider the option of waging a war on two fronts, as obviously hopeless. On the same day, the Polish government fled to Romania.
Soviet troops move forward practically without resistance and soon come into contact with the Wehrmacht. On September 22, the ceremonial transfer of the city took place in Brest. Although individual Polish units continue to resist until October 6, this occurs much further west.
Already on September 28, 1939, the Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany was signed in Moscow. The distribution of territories is somewhat different from. Germany retains the Lublin Voivodeship and the eastern districts of Warsaw (the same ones that were transferred from the Bialystok Voivodeship in 1938). Plus a protrusion between East Prussia and the southern part of Lithuania (the “Suwalki Protrusion”) In exchange, Lithuania goes into the “sphere of interests” of the USSR.
Moreover, Moscow took the initiative in this matter. Since the beginning of September, the Germans have been negotiating the transition of Lithuania to German protectorate and intensified the assault on Warsaw, expecting an imminent (scheduled for October 3) exit Soviet troops to the western bank of the Vistula. The Germans were not averse to it, in view of the need for Germany “first of all for timber and oil.” And therefore they agreed. They also asked to make concessions in the oil-bearing areas in the south in the upper reaches of the San River. But instead, they were offered up to half a million tons of oil in exchange for supplies of coal and steel pipes.
Since Lithuania was leaving the German "sphere of influence", Germany had claims to part of its lands. Which the USSR undertook to satisfy as soon as “special measures were taken on Lithuanian territory.”
However, in the end, in 1941 the Germans received not land, but $7.5 million in compensation.
PS. Document on topic.
GERMAN-SOVIET AGREEMENT OF FRIENDSHIP AND BORDER BETWEEN THE USSR and GERMANY
(with confidential protocol)
The government of the USSR and the German government, after the collapse of the former Polish state, consider it exclusively their task to restore peace and order in this territory and provide the people living there with a peaceful existence consistent with their national characteristics. To this end they agreed as follows:
The government of the USSR and the German government establish a line as the boundary between mutual state interests on the territory of the former Polish state, which is marked on the attached map and will be described in more detail in the additional protocol.
Both Parties recognize the boundary of mutual state interests established in Article I as final and will eliminate any interference by third powers in this decision.
Article III
The necessary state reorganization in the territory west of the line indicated in the article is carried out by the German government, in the territory east of this line - by the USSR Government.
The government of the USSR and the German government consider the above restructuring as a reliable foundation for the further development of friendly relations between their peoples.
This treaty is subject to ratification. The exchange of instruments of ratification should take place as soon as possible in Berlin. The agreement comes into force from the moment of its signing. Compiled in two originals, in German and Russian.
For the German Government
V. Molotov
I. Ribbentrop
CONFIDENTIAL PROTOCOL
The Government of the USSR will not create any obstacles in the way of imperial citizens and other persons of German origin living in territories within its sphere of interests if they wish to resettle in Germany or in territories within the German sphere of interests. It agrees that such movements will be carried out by authorized representatives of the Government of the Empire in cooperation with the competent local authorities and that the property rights of emigrants would be protected.
Similar obligations are assumed by the German Government in relation to persons of Ukrainian or Belarusian origin living in the territories under its jurisdiction.
By authority of the Government of the USSR:
For the German Government
V. Molotov
I. Ribbentrop
The undersigned authorized representatives state the agreement of the German Government and the Government of the USSR as follows:
The secret additional protocol signed on August 23, 1939 is amended in paragraph 1 in such a way that the territory of the Lithuanian state is included in the sphere of interests of the USSR, since on the other hand the Lublin Voivodeship and parts of the Warsaw Voivodeship are included in the sphere of interests of Germany (see map to the one signed today Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany). As soon as the Government of the USSR takes special measures on Lithuanian territory to protect its interests, then, in order to draw the border naturally and simply, the present German-Lithuanian border is corrected so that the Lithuanian territory, which lies southwest of the line indicated on the map, goes to Germany .
By authority of the Government of the USSR:
For the German Government
V. Molotov
I. Ribbentrop
SECRET ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
(on preventing Polish agitation)
The undersigned plenipotentiaries, upon the conclusion of the German-Russian Treaty of Friendship and Borders, declare their agreement as follows:
Both Parties will not allow any Polish agitation on their territories that affects the territory of the other Party. They will suppress all sources of such agitation in their territories and inform each other about measures taken for this purpose.
By authority of the Government of the USSR:
For the German Government
V. Molotov
I. Ribbentrop
The document is quoted from: Vladislav SHVED. Neo-Nazis of Lithuania against Russia. M., 2015, p. 765-770.
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THE SOVIET-GERMAN AGREEMENT ON FRIENDSHIP AND BORDER 1939 was concluded on September 28 in Moscow. Signed on the part of the USSR - V. M. Molotov, Germany - I. von Ribbentrop.
The treaty established the border between Germany and the USSR “after the collapse of the former Polish state” along the line drawn on the map attached to the treaty and described in the additional protocol.
The Preamble of the treaty declared the task of restoring peace and order in the Polish territories, ceded to Germany and the USSR in September 1939. Mutual state interests and the elimination of any interference by third powers in the decision on the division of Polish territory were stipulated.
The Trust Protocol of September 28, 1939 established that the USSR Government would not prevent German citizens and other persons of German origin from relocating to Germany, and the German government would assume the same obligation regarding persons of Ukrainian and Belarusian origin.
The secret additional protocol of September 28, 1939 determined the division of interests of Germany and the USSR on the territory of the Lithuanian state.
Orlov A.S., Georgieva N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical Dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 477.
German-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany
The government of the USSR and the German government, after the collapse of the former Polish state, consider it exclusively their task to restore peace and order in this territory and provide the people living there with a peaceful existence consistent with their national characteristics. To this end they agreed as follows:
Article I
The government of the USSR and the German government establish a line as the boundary between mutual state interests on the territory of the former Polish state, which is marked on the attached map and will be described in more detail in the additional protocol.
Article II
Both Parties recognize the boundary of mutual state interests established in Article I as final and will eliminate any interference by third powers in this decision.
Article III
The necessary state reorganization in the territory west of the line indicated in the article is carried out by the German government, in the territory east of this line - by the USSR Government.
The government of the USSR and the German government consider the above restructuring as a reliable foundation for the further development of friendly relations between their peoples.
This treaty is subject to ratification. The exchange of instruments of ratification should take place as soon as possible in Berlin.
The agreement comes into force from the moment of its signing.
Compiled in two originals, in German and Russian.
For the Government
Germany
I. Ribbentrop
By authority
Governments of the USSR
V. Molotov
CONFIDENTIAL PROTOCOL
The Government of the USSR will not create any obstacles in the way of imperial citizens and other persons of German origin living in territories within its sphere of interests if they wish to resettle in Germany or in territories within the German sphere of interests. It agrees that such transfers will be carried out by representatives of the Imperial Government in cooperation with the competent local authorities and that the property rights of the emigrants will be protected.
Similar obligations are assumed by the German Government in relation to persons of Ukrainian or Belarusian origin living in the territories under its jurisdiction.
For the Government
Germany
I. Ribbentrop
By authority
Governments of the USSR
V. Molotov
The undersigned plenipotentiaries declare the agreement of the Government of Germany and the Government of the USSR as follows:
The secret additional protocol signed on August 23, 1939 should be corrected in paragraph I, reflecting the fact that the territory of the Lithuanian state became the sphere of interests of the USSR, while, on the other hand, the Lublin Voivodeship and part of the Warsaw Voivodeship became the sphere of interests of Germany (see map attached to the Treaty of Friendship and Borders signed today). As soon as the Government of the USSR takes special measures on Lithuanian territory to protect its interests, the present German-Lithuanian border, in order to establish a natural and simple border description, should be corrected so that the Lithuanian territory located southwest of the line marked on attached map, went to Germany.
For the Government
Germany
I. Ribbentrop
By authority
Governments of the USSR
V. Molotov
SECRET ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL (on preventing Polish agitation)
The undersigned plenipotentiaries, upon the conclusion of the German-Russian Treaty of Friendship and Borders, declare their agreement as follows:
Both Parties will not allow any Polish agitation on their territories that affects the territory of the other Party. They will suppress all sources of such agitation in their territories and inform each other about measures taken for this purpose.
For the Government
Germany
I. Ribbentrop
By authority
Governments of the USSR
V. Molotov
September 28, 1939 - after 20 days of resistance, the act of surrender of Warsaw was signed, on the same day, as a result of negotiations between the USSR People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs V. M. Molotov and the German Foreign Minister I. von Ribbentrop, the “Treaty of Friendship and Border” was signed between the USSR and Germany." Secret additional protocols to which recorded a new division of the spheres of influence of the Soviet Union and the Third Reich: Lithuania moved into the Soviet “zone”, and western lands Poland was turned into a German General Government, and also coordinated the prevention of “Polish agitation” in the territory of occupied Poland.
Description
Three secret protocols were attached to the agreement - one confidential and two secret. The confidential protocol determined the procedure for the exchange of Soviet and German citizens between both parts of divided Poland, and the secret ones adjusted the zones of Eastern European “spheres of interest” in connection with the division of Poland and the upcoming “special measures on Lithuanian territory to protect the interests of the Soviet side,” and also established the obligations of the parties suppress any “Polish agitation” affecting the interests of the parties.During the invasion of Poland, the Germans occupied the Lublin Voivodeship and the eastern part of the Warsaw Voivodeship, the territories of which, in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, were in the sphere of interests of the Soviet Union. In order to compensate the Soviet Union for these losses, a secret protocol to this agreement, according to which Lithuania, with the exception of a small territory of the Suwalki region, passed into the sphere of influence of the USSR. This exchange ensured the Soviet Union non-interference by Germany in relations with Lithuania, which resulted in the establishment of the Lithuanian SSR on June 15, 1940.
Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany
The Government of the USSR and the German Government, after the collapse of the former Polish state, consider it exclusively their task to restore peace and order in this territory and provide the people living there with a peaceful existence consistent with their national characteristics. To this end they agreed as follows: - The Government of the USSR and the German Government establish a line as the boundary between mutual state interests on the territory of the former Polish state, which is marked on the attached map and will be described in more detail in the additional protocol.
- Both Parties recognize the border of mutual state interests established in Article 1 as final, and eliminate any interference of third powers in this decision.
- The necessary state reorganization in the territory west of the line indicated in the article is carried out by the German Government, in the territory east of this line - by the Government of the USSR.
- The Government of the USSR and the German Government consider the above restructuring as a reliable foundation for the further development of friendly relations between their peoples.
- This treaty is subject to ratification. The exchange of instruments of ratification should take place as soon as possible in Berlin. The agreement comes into force from the moment of its signing. Compiled in two originals, in German and Russian.
Secret additional protocol
The undersigned plenipotentiaries declare the agreement of the Government of Germany and the Government of the USSR as follows:The secret additional protocol signed on August 23, 1939 should be amended in paragraph 1 to reflect the fact that the territory of the Lithuanian state came into the sphere of influence of the USSR, while, on the other hand, the Lublin Voivodeship and part of the Warsaw Voivodeship went into the sphere of influence Germany (see map attached to the Treaty of Friendship and Borders signed today).
As soon as the Government of the USSR takes special measures on Lithuanian territory to protect its interests, the present German-Lithuanian border, with a view to establishing a natural and simple border description, should be corrected so that the Lithuanian territory located southwest of the line marked on attached map, went to Germany.
The undersigned authorized representatives, upon conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship and Borders, declare their agreement as follows:
Both Parties will not allow any Polish agitation on their territories that affects the territory of the other Party. They will suppress all sources of such agitation in their territories and inform each other about measures taken for this purpose.
Results
As a result of these events, a territory of 196 thousand km² with a population of about 13 million people came under the control of the USSR.After Germany attacked the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, the treaty, like all other Soviet-German treaties, lost force. When concluding the Sikorski-Maiski Agreement on July 30, 1941, the Soviet government recognized the Soviet-German treaties of 1939 as no longer in force in terms of territorial changes in Poland.