Before Vyacheslav Molotov, Maxim Litvinov served as the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs (foreign minister) of the Soviet Union. Litvinov played a crucial role in Soviet foreign policy during the interwar period and the early years of World War II. Born in 1876, Litvinov was a prominent diplomat and revolutionary who represented the Soviet Union in various international conferences and negotiations. He was known for his efforts to establish diplomatic relations with Western countries and promote Soviet interests on the world stage. Litvinov's tenure as foreign minister saw the Soviet Union join the League of Nations in 1934, despite the reservations of some Western powers. He also played a key role in negotiating the Non-Aggression Pact with Nazi Germany in 1939, a controversial move that paved the way for the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe during World War II. Despite his early successes, Litvinov fell out of favor with Stalin in 1939 and was eventually replaced by Vyacheslav Molotov. Molotov's more hardline approach to foreign policy marked a shift in Soviet diplomacy towards a more confrontational stance with the West. Nevertheless, Litvinov's legacy as a skilled diplomat and advocate for Soviet interests lives on. His efforts to engage with the international community and promote peace through diplomacy laid the groundwork for future Soviet foreign policy initiatives. To learn more about Maxim Litvinov's contributions to Soviet foreign policy, you can visit the following URLs for more information: - [Maxim Litvinov - Soviet Foreign Minister](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maxim-Maksimovich-Litvinov) - [Maxim Litvinov - Russian Foreign Minister](https://www.history.com/topics/russia/maxim-litvinov) In conclusion, Maxim Litvinov's tenure as the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs was a pivotal period in Soviet foreign policy history. His diplomatic efforts helped shape the Soviet Union's relations with the international community and laid the groundwork for future diplomatic initiatives.

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