This Day in WW2 (23 August)

• Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (better known as The Molotov/Ribbentrop Pact) was signed in Moscow on 23 august 1939

Foreign ministers of the Soviet Union and Germany Vyacheslav Molotov (left) and Joachim von Ribbentrop (right) in Moscow

• The First Battle of Kiev started on 23 August, 1941. The battle ended with German victory and the destruction of Soviet Southwestern Front.

Soldier of German artillery after the fall of Kyiv looking over the Dnieper river (Bundesarchiv Bild 183-L29208)

• One of the decisive and iconic battles of WW2 officially started on 23 August 1942 - The Battle of Stalingrad. Complete destruction of German 6th Army five months later marked the turning point in war on Eastern front.

Ruins of Stalingrad after the battle

• Japanese garrison at Paramushiro, Kurile Islands, surrendered to Soviet troops on 23 August 1945.