The following is an encore presentation of Everything Everywhere Daily.

When most people think of World War II, they think of the Allied powers of the United States, the UK, and the Soviet Union versus the axis powers of Germany, Italy,

and Japan. However, this wasn't always the case. At the start of the war in Europe, Nazi Germany and the

Soviet Union actually coordinated with

each other to invade their neighbors.

Learn more about the Ribbentrop Molotov Pact and how the Nazis and the Soviets

were allies before they were enemies on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Historically relations between Germany and Russia were a mixed bag at best.

They were both European land powers that often butted up against each other in or around Poland.

There were enemies in World War I, and each country killed hundreds of thousands of the other soldiers.

After the war each country underwent a radical societal and political transformation.

Russia was swept up in a communist revolution, had a civil war, and then settled in with a couple of dictators.

Germany had their economy collapse, had a shaky democracy for a few years, and then fell under control of the Nazi party.

In the interwar years, the relations between Germany

and the Soviet Union were okay.

In 1922, the Weimar Republic and the Soviet Union

signed the Treaty of Rapalo

where they renounced any territorial and financial claims against the other.

In 1926, they signed the Treaty of Berlin where they agreed to remain neutral if either country was attacked.

In the 1930s, the rise of the Nazi Party put a

strain on the relation to the two countries. The Nazis didn't think much of

either Slavic people or communists and the Soviets didn't think much of the

fascist and Nazi party.

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