Russia's neutrality pact with Japan

13th August 1941: Stalin's move paves the way for Japan's war with USA

Yosuke Matsuoka, the Japanese Foreign Minister who signed the treaty, described Stalin’s move as an “act of diplomatic blitzkrieg”.

In August 1939, Stalin had signed a “non-aggression” pact with Hitler, which stunned the world. It was scarcely believable that two such sworn enemies could come to terms.