Russia's neutrality pact with Japan

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

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.

Stalin oversees the signing of the Russian-German ‘Non aggression’ pact on 23rd August 1939.

Only with hindsight could the move be seen for the mutual calculation that it was. Both sides …