After his release from prison in December 1924, Hitler rebuilt the National Socialist German Workers party (Nazi) and waited for the opportunity to regain national influence. That opportunity came with the Great Depression of 1929. He promised the unemployed jobs and a return to national prosperity. The elections of 1930 restored him to power, and he Hitler-Stalin pact

Hitler signed a non- aggression treaty with Stalin on 23 Aug 1939. Under the terms of the treaty both countries agreed to remain neutral and to refrain from acts of aggression against each other if either went to war. Secret clauses allowed for the partition of Poland- Hitler was to acquire western Poland, Stalin the eastern part. On 1 Sept 1939 Hitler invaded Poland. The pact ended when Hitler invaded Russia on 22 June 1941. See also World War II.