Why did Japan help Hitler during World War 2?

Answer 1

Japan recognized its similar goals and ideology with respect to nationalism and Imperialism. In addition, the Nazis had specific technological advances that the Japanese wanted to incorporate into their war machine. However, the primary reason was to establish an alliance that would stabilize the war effort for Japan if the Allies took an interest in Japan's plans for the Pacific.

Answer 2

I'm wondering who will tell me I am wrong: I don't think there was significant co operation between Japan & Germany/Italy in WW2. Yes, there may have been collusion or even common goals, obviously there were in the US & Britain & British Empire & Commonweath common enemies. But actual co operation ?

Answer 3

It didn't to any significant degree: Japan fought its own war in Asia and the Pacific. It was oddly Hitler who helped Japan more by needlessly declaring war against the US, for reasons which remain unclear but may simply have been a matter of pre-empting an expected US declaration of war against Germany.

Answer 4

Short Answer: To combat the Soviet threat and to force America to fight a two front war.

Long Answer:

The Japanese had built a booming industry based economy and need raw materials to fuel it. As the Japanese islands were resource poor, specifically in metals and oils, they looked over seas to the Dutch Colonies of Indonesia and the Philippines. As Japan grew more and more aggressive, they started to fear foreign intervention, specifically from the British, Soviets (who they had fought previous with) and Americans.

As Nazi Germany was growing more powerful, it became clear the British could not intervene without leaving themselves open to defeat in Europe. So when Nazi Germany proposed the 'Anti-Comintern Pact' to isolate the Soviet Union, Japan agreed.

As Japan expanded more and more, the United States passed the Oil Embargo, depriving Japan to extreme measures as almost all their oil was bought from the USA. The only oil rich areas near by were British or Dutch controlled, and they felt if they attacked the British colonies, the Americans would intervene, and as the Philippines was still under American control, the perceived threat of American naval intervention was too much to allow.

Thus the Pearl Harbor attack was planned and executed, as the Japanese felt without battleships the Americans would be unable to charge across the Pacific straight to Japan. A strategy America had decided against in the 1920s.

In addition to the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Wake Island and the Philippines, they also attacked British colonial holdings, drawing them into the war.

Following the American Declaration of War against Japan, Hitler declared war against the United States and Italy followed his lead.