Why were the Japanese involved in World War 2 if the war started in Germany?

Answer 1

Germany and Japan had separate but compatible aims. Germany wanted to conquer and dominate Europe. Japan wanted to conquer and dominate Asia. Since most of Asia was already dominated by European countries, that meant that Germany and Japan were opposing the same group of enemies. Thus they were natural allies. Actually Japan got the jump on Germany by several years. She invaded China in 1933, six years before Germany risked open war in Poland. Australia was part of the British Empire. She was what was called a British Dominion. That meant she was fully self governing and soveriegn, with full power over decisions on war and peace, but still recognized the King of England as her king. This is the exact relationship she, and most other commonwealth countries, bear to England today. At that time though the Dominions looked to Britain for leadership much more than they do today, because of the overall imperial structure that still existed. Thus, when Britain went to war most of the Dominions, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, automatically joined in to help.Michael Montagne