Why did Nazi Germany initially sign a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union?

The decision for Nazi Germany to sign a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was primarily motivated by the desire to secure its eastern borders and avoid a potential two-front war. This strategic move allowed Hitler to focus his military efforts on Western Europe without the fear of a simultaneous conflict with the Soviet Union to the east. By ensuring that the Soviet Union would not interfere with Germany's military expansion in Poland and beyond, the Nazis were able to pursue their aggressive territorial ambitions with less risk.

Furthermore, this pact was instrumental in enabling Germany to invade Poland in September 1939, leading to the onset of World War II. The agreement also included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, which further solidified the alliance between the two powers, albeit temporarily. Therefore, the correct reasoning lies in the strategic military considerations that the pact addressed, allowing Germany to operate with greater freedom and security in its expansionist goals.