Editing Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (section)

===Summer deterioration of relations===
The Finnish and Baltic invasions began a deterioration of relations between the Soviets and Germany.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kennan|first=George|title=Russian and the West, under Lenin and Stalin|place=NY|publisher=Mentor|year=1961|pages=318–9}}.</ref> Stalin's invasions were a severe irritant to Berlin since the intent to accomplish them had not been communicated to the Germans beforehand, and they prompted concern that Stalin was seeking to form an anti-German bloc.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cartier|first=Raymond|title=Hitler et ses Généreaux|place=Paris|publisher=J'ai Lu/A. Faiard|year=1962|page=233|language=fr|trans-title=Hitler and his Generals}}.</ref> Molotov's reassurances to the Germans only intensified the Germans' mistrust. On 16 June, as the Soviets invaded Lithuania but before they had invaded Latvia and Estonia, Ribbentrop instructed his staff "to submit a report as soon as possible as to whether in the Baltic States a tendency to seek support from the Reich can be observed or whether an attempt was made to form a bloc."<ref>{{Cite book|editor1-last=Sontag|editor1-first=RJ|editor2-last=Beddie|editor2-first=JS|title=Nazi–Soviet Relations 1939–1941|place=Washington, DC|publisher=State Department|year=1948|page=151}}.</ref>

In August 1940, the Soviet Union briefly suspended its deliveries under its [[German–Soviet Commercial Agreement (1940)|commercial agreement]] after relations were strained after disagreements over policy in Romania, the [[Winter War|Soviet war with Finland]], Germany's falling behind on its deliveries of goods under the pact and Stalin's worry that Hitler's war with the West might end quickly after [[Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)|France signed an armistice]].{{Sfn|Philbin|1994|pp=48, 59}} The suspension created significant resource problems for Germany.{{Sfn|Philbin|1994|pp=48, 59}} By the end of August, relations had improved again, as the countries had [[Second Vienna Award|redrawn the Hungarian and Romanian borders]] and settled some Bulgarian claims, and Stalin was again convinced that Germany would face a long war in the west with Britain's improvement in its [[Battle of Britain|air battle with Germany]] and the execution of [[Destroyers for Bases Agreement|an agreement between the United States and Britain regarding destroyers and bases]].{{Sfn|Philbin|1994|p=60}}

In early September however, Germany arranged its own occupation of Romania, targeting its oil fields.{{Sfn|Shirer|1990|p=720}} That move raised tensions with the Soviets, who responded that Germany was supposed to have consulted with the Soviet Union under Article III of the pact.{{Sfn|Shirer|1990|p=720}}