Figure 1.--. |
|
Hitler appears to have conceived an alliance with the Japanese as a way of dividing the world in what he called Operation Orient. While the Japanese ageeed to the Anti-Comitern Pact (1936) and the Axis (1940), Hitler never suceeded in convincing the Japanese in commiting to his campaihn against the Siviet Union, even after he declared war on the United States when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (1941). Germany launched World War II when it invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 causing Britain and France declared war on September 3. Britain and France had pledged to defend Poland in case of German invasion. Germany defeated the Polish Army in October 1939, the Polish Government never agreed to an armistace. The Germans then defeated the French Army and forced the country to sign an armistace in June 1940. Italy on June 10, just before the armistace, entred the war. Japan after signing the Axis agreement did not join the war with Britain in Europe. Japan did seize the French colony of Indo-China (Vietnam) which brought about American sanctions. Japan had been at war with China since 1937. Japanese planners in 1941 pondered their course of action, especially after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. Some expected them to attack north at Soviet Siberia. Had they done so, almost surely the Soviet Union reeling under German attack, would have been defeated. Instead they attacked south at the American Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. There was vitually no coordintion among Axis partners in military strategy, in contrast to the closely coordinate Allied operations. There was especially close cooperation between Ameica and Britain, but there was also some coordination with the Soviets.
There was vitually no coordintion among Axis partners in military strategy, in contrast to the closely coordinate Allied operations. There was especially close cooperation between Ameica and Britain, but there was also some coordination with the Soviets. Beginning with the meeting on the Prince of Wales in Placencia Bay and the issuance of the Atlantic Charter (August 1941), the Allies had numerous meetings: Casblanca (January 1943), Teheran (November 1943), Yalta (February 1945), and Potsdam (July 1945) as well as many smaller conferences. There were over 200 Allied conferences including working-level groups that planned joint operations in great detail. [Fest, p. 656.] Nothing like this took place within the Axis. President Roosevelt began the extensive correspondence with Churchill after he was recalled to the Admiralty (1939). Prime-Minister Churchill spent more tha a 100 days in the White House. None of this intense coordination occured among the Axis in their war effort. Hitler made the decession to launch World war I and the decession to invade the Soviet Union on his own. Mussollini responded with his invasion of Albania and later Greece without informing Hitler in advance.
Germany launched World War II when it invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 causing Britain and France declared war on September 3. There was non planning withItaly in advance. Britain and France had pledged to defend Poland in case of German invasion. Germany defeated the Polish Army in October 1939, the Polish Government never agreed to an armistace. The Germans then defeated the French Army and forced the country to sign an armistace in June 1940. Italy just before the armistace, entred the war (June 10).
Hitler appears to have conceived an alliance with the Japanese as a way of dividing the world in what he called Operation Orient. While the Japanese ageeed to the Anti-Comitern Pact (1936) and the Axis (1940). Japan after signing the Axis agreement did not join the war with Britain in Europe. Hitler never suceeded in convincing the Japanese in commiting to his campaihn against the Soviet Union, even after he declared war on the United States when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (1941). Japan did seize the French colony of Indo-China (Vietnam) which brought about American sanctions. Japan had been at war with China since 1937. Japanese planners in 1941 pondered their course of action, especially after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. Some expected them to attack north at Soviet Siberia. Had they done so, almost surely the Soviet Union reeling unde German attack, would have been defeated. Instead they attacked south at American Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
We know of no significant efforts by Italy and Japan to coordinate strategy.
Feis, Joachim C. Hitler (Vintage, 1974), 844p.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main Axis page]
[Return to Main World War II page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]