The pact was a secret agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It included a protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, leading to the occupation and annexation of several countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. This agreement paved the way for the outbreak of World War II just days later, on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland from the west, followed by the Soviet invasion from the east. Mr. Kristaps emphasized the significance of remembering this dark chapter in history, particularly for Latvia, which experienced decades of Soviet occupation as a result of the pact.

"Rift through Europe" is a collaborative effort between the Museum Berlin-Karlshorst and the Department of Eastern European History at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Through a range of historical documents, personal testimonies, and multimedia presentations, the exhibition explores how the pact influenced not only the course of the war but also the post-war division of Europe, the onset of the Cold War, and the long-term effects on the lives of millions. Indeed, exactly 50 years later, on August 23, 1989, people in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed the "Baltic Way": the 670-kilometer-long human chain was a peaceful demonstration for the independence of the Baltic States from the Soviet Union.

The museum offers a poignant reminder of how political decisions made decades ago continue to shape the world we live in today. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can participate in an engaging program of lectures, panel discussions, and film screenings, further exploring the complex legacy of the Hitler-Stalin Pact.

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