The causes and meaning of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact from 23rd August 1939

The bachelor thesis deals with the causes and significance of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact from 23rd August 1939. The co-operation of Germany and the Soviet Union during the 1930s was never completely interrupted, but it developed in dependence on factors in the ideological, economic and political spheres. One of the arguments for strengthening cooperation with the Soviet Union was to secure the autarchies in the area of raw material resources needed for the imminent warfare. The thesis analyzes the raw material stock in German territory and explains Germany's dependence on the import of strategic raw materials from Soviet territory. It also outlines the convergence of mutual relations according to the US Revisionist School before signing the non-aggression treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union. An analysis of the course of the negotiations, the content of the Pact, and the political and economic consequences is also made.The aim of the thesis was to evaluate the German economy's preparedness for a war conflict in the matter of raw material resources, when the Soviet Union was a business partner with these scarce raw materials. Part of the research was also an impact assessment in the political and economic spheres where the treaty constituted a means by which both states put their different ideologies in place and preferred common national interests. The assumed hypothesis of the German economy's unpreparedness to the coming war was confirmed after the analysis. The German economy has not been able to secure enough large stockpiles on its territory. The Soviet Union therefore represented an important business ally for Germany, which helped resolve this economic problem. The Soviet Union benefited from this alliance by acquiring German technological procedures and arms.