Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggression with Yugoslavia
Article Five. Germany, Italy and Japan affirm that the afore-
said terms do not in any way affect the political status which
exists at present as between each of the three contracting pow-
ers and Soviet Russia.
Article Six. The present pact shall come into effect immedi-
ately upon signature and shall remain in force 10 years from the
date of its coming into force. At the proper time before expira-
tion of said term, the high contracting parties shall at the
request of any of them enter into negotiations for its renewal.
In faith whereof, the undersigned duly authorized by their
respective governments have signed this pact and have affixed
hereto their signatures.
Done in triplicate at Berlin, the 27th day of September, 1940,
in the 19th year of the fascist era, corresponding to the 27th day
of the ninth month of the 15th year of Showa (the reign of
Emperor Hirohito).
4.1313 Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggres-
sion with Yugoslavia
Alliance Members:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and
Yugoslavia
Signed On:April 5, 1941, in the city of Moscow. In force until April
20, 1941.
Alliance Type:Neutrality Pact (Type II)
Source:British and Foreign State Papers,vol. 144, p. 878–879.
SUMMARY
This agreement was signed one day before Hitler’s attack on
Yugoslavia. Germany invaded on April 6, 1941, and the various
regions of Yugoslavia surrendered eleven days later, on April 17, in
Belgrade. The alliance ended when Yugoslavia was disbanded into sev-
eral puppet states controlled by the Germans. The Soviets liberated
Yugoslavia from German forces in 1945. The pro-Communist partisan
movement, led by Josip Broz Tito, came to power as the more influen-
tial opposition force during German occupation and subsequently
modeled its new constitution after its Soviet counterpart.
Alliance Text
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and His
Majesty the King of Yugoslavia, inspired by the friendship exist-
ing between their two countries, and convinced that the main-
tenance of peace is in their common interest, have decided to
conclude a treaty of friendship and non-aggression, and for this
purpose have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR: V.M.
Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars and
Commissar for Foreign Affairs;
His Majesty the King of Yugoslavia: M. Gavrilovich,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of
Yugoslavia; B. Simich, and Colonel D. Savich
who, having exchanged their credentials, which were found
to be in due form and proper order, agreed on the following
provisions:- The two contracting parties mutually undertake to refrain
from any attack on one another and to respect the independ-
ence, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity of the USSR and
Yugoslavia. - Should either of the contracting parties be subjected to
attack from a third State, the other contracting party undertakes
to observe a policy of friendship toward it. - The present treaty is concluded for a term of five years.
If, one year before the expiration of that term, neither of the
contracting parties gives notice of its desire to denounce the
present treaty, it shall automatically continue in force for the
subsequent five years. - The present treaty enters into force upon its signature. The
treaty is to be ratified as quickly as possible. The instruments of
ratification shall be exchanged in Belgrade. - The treaty is drawn up in two copies, each in the Russian
and Serbo-Croat languages; the two texts have equal force.
Moscow, 5 April 1941
4.1314 Pact of Neutrality between the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan
Alliance Members:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan
Signed On:April 13, 1941, in the city of Moscow. In force until April
5, 1945.
Alliance Type:Neutrality Pact (Type II)
Source:British and Foreign State Papers,vol. 144, p. 839.SUMMARY
This neutrality pact was signed two years after the border war between
Japan and the Soviet Union. The agreement led to additional agree-
ments that affirmed Japanese control of Manchukuo and Soviet con-
trol over Mongolia. Japan considered renouncing the agreement after
signing the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy and after Ger-
many’s attack on the Soviet Union. However, Japan instead pursued a
policy of territorial conquest in Southeast Asia. The Soviets renounced
the agreement in April 1945 and attacked Japan in August 1945.Alliance Text
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan,
guided by a desire to strengthen peaceful and friendly relations
between the two countries, have decided to conclude a pact on
neutrality, for which purpose they have appointed as their Rep-
resentatives:
the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics—Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov,
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars and People’s
Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics;
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan—Yosuke Matsuoka,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jusanmin, Cavalier of the Order of