The war began on September 1, 1939. The pact of two dictatorships with a secret appendix removed the last stop-blocks — and the world plunged downwards.

The war started on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s attack on Poland. The trigger was the secret protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which had preemptively divided Eastern Europe into “spheres of influence.”

The connection to today is direct: Ukraine became a target precisely when the Kremlin once again spoke the language of “spheres of influence.” While Putin’s Russia draws “historical borders,” for its neighbors, this means real war, deportations, and fear — everything Europe fled from since 1939.

The Pact that “Untied Hands”

At the end of August 1939, Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop met in Moscow. On paper — “non-aggression.” In fact — the route of the future war.

The secret protocol laid out countries like pieces: Poland, the Baltics, Finland, the east of Romania. No one in Europe signed such a cynical division. Unfortunately, it was exactly that.

“Devilish alliance” — that’s how researchers would later call this agreement. The meaning is extremely simple: two dictatorships agreed on who would go where.

September 1939: Two Arrows — One Target

September 1 the Wehrmacht struck from the west.
September 17 the Red Army entered from the east — under the familiar pretext of “protecting” local “Ukrainians and Belarusians.”

And on September 22, 1939, a joint parade was held in Brest. Photos and reports left no room for euphemisms: the attack was coordinated.

What Stalin Expected to Gain

Stalin saw an opportunity: Germany was fighting with London and Paris, while Moscow “returned” territories and bargained with the Reich — raw materials in exchange for technology. In the short term, the scheme worked.

But in 1941 Germany struck the USSR. The illusion of “gained time” crumbled within a week.

From “Shame” to Pride — How Rhetoric Changed

In the late USSR, they preferred to remain silent about the protocol. In the 2000s, Russian rhetoric fluctuated: from “immoral” to “a necessary measure.”

The argument “it was needed for security” does not withstand a simple question. How can you secure yourself if you move the front closer to a future enemy?

Historians remind us: justifying the pact inevitably “washes away” aggression from the formulations. This is revisionism, only politely packaged.

“What About Munich?” — A Popular Substitution

A favorite remark — “The West also made mistakes in 1938.” True, Munich was a policy of concessions. But there was no secret division with subsequent joint invasion.

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is a different phenomenon. It has a secret annex and a real joint attack on Poland. This is the key difference.

Facts and Dates (Brief and to the Point)

• 09.01.1939 — Germany attacked Poland.
• 09.17.1939 — The USSR invaded the eastern regions of Poland.
• 09.22.1939 — joint parade in Brest.
• 86 years later, 09.01.2025 — the debate over the assessment of the pact is still politicized.

Why the Topic Hits a Nerve in Israel

Memory is part of Israel’s security. This is not a figure of speech, but the experience of families from Warsaw, Lviv, Vilnius, Minsk. Any attempt to rewrite 1939 is an attempt to shake the foundation.

Israel learns from the lessons of the 20th century: concessions to dictators give a short respite and a long list of losses. We know this better than many.

Ukraine — Echo of an Old Scenario

Rhetoric of “liberation,” maps of “historical lands,” stories of “protection” — we’ve seen it all before. Only the date in the newspaper differs.

Eastern European countries chose NATO not out of whim. They read the archives and knew how the policy of “spheres of influence” on foreign borders ends.

What Exactly This Pact Brought to the World

1. Legitimization of the crude division of “spheres of influence.”
2. Rapid collapse of Poland and a chain reaction of conflicts.
3. Illusion of security for Moscow — until June 22, 1941.
4. Millions of victims, destroyed Jewish communities of Eastern Europe.

Checklist of Revisionism (Recognizable from the First Paragraph)

• “Attack” is replaced with “preventive measure.”
• “Occupation” is called “reunification.”
• Response to aggression is declared “provocation.”
• Concession is presented as a “diplomatic victory.”

Israeli Optics — Memory as a Tool

In Israeli schools and families, memory is not a museum exhibit. It’s about strategy: seeing threats in advance when they still seem like “inconvenient details.”

Therefore, any ideas of a “new Munich” sound like a repetition of an old mistake. The price of compromise with those who divide the world into “spheres” is always higher than it seems at the moment of the deal.

We know how the topic is perceived in Haifa and Bat Yam, in Kiryat and Tel Aviv. Many have family stories, some have archives of letters. It’s all about us.

NAnews — Israel News strives to write in a human language. And yes, we are demanding of words: because words change the framework of decisions.

The lesson is simple: give in to blackmail — the aggressor will demand more. Russia’s war against Ukraine is a repeat of the old scheme, where words about “protection” cover up the seizure. The only working response: support for Kyiv, tough sanctions, and legal responsibility to stop Putin before the price rises for everyone.

FAQ

When did World War II start and why?

Conclusion — Short but Tough

The war began on September 1, 1939. The pact of two dictatorships with a secret annex removed the last stop-brakes — and the world plunged down.

86 years later, the conclusion remains the same: security relies on clear formulations, firm borders, and honest memory. And this is not just a history lesson — it’s an action guide for Israel, Ukraine, and the entire diaspora.