Why did Japan join the Germans?

Answer 1

Before the war, Germany, Italy and Japan had formed a pact opposing the Communist International, which was Stalin's tool to spread communism throughout the world. Japan actually ended up aiding Germany very little during the war, and decided to disregard the pact and not fight against the USSR (after a short round of skirmishes that saw Japan lose badly). When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it was Germany and Italy who declared war on the US as a way of showing solidarity with Japan with the hopes that Japan would aid Germany against the USSR (it never materialized).

Answer 2

Well, if you look at the distances between the two countries its hard to imagine any significant stratgic cooperation, but when you consider the size of the British Empire at the time its easier to imagine. Japan was clearly in position to assert pressure on places like Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, French Indo-China and other colonies owned by Germany's Western European adversaries. There was indeed something very odd about the alliance between Germany and Japan. It would only have made real sense if both countries had attacked the Soviet Union simultaneously, which they did not do.

Answer 3

It was a self interest play. Japan got into WWI so that it could, without risk, pick up a few colonies - those of Germany. These spots were various islands that Germany had controlled for 20 or 30 years prior to WWI. When WWII started in Europe, Germany was quickly master of the continent. This left the much more valuable colonies of Hong Kong, Singapore, Java, Indochina, and Burma with little protection from their European masters. Japan thus thought they could pick up several colonial jewels with little risk or effort. The only possible problem was that the USA also had a colony in the area, and it lay perfectly between Japan and these other colonies. War with the USA thus became an almost sure thing. Thus Germany and Japan became loosely tied as allies due to Japan's desire to take over the European colonies in the Far East. For Germany, Japan was useful as they tied down military assets that might otherwise have gone against Germany. The alliance was never very strong. Germany did some trade with Japan - supplying them with high tech motors for watercraft, the Japanese returning the favor with raw rubber. Military coordination was almost completely lacking. Japan refused to be involved in the Russian campaign although they might have been able to completely alter the outcome of the war by so doing. Japan was also home to Serge, the notorious Soviet spy that gave up all sort of secrets to Stalin and others during the war. The Japanese also brought the USA into WWII earlier than they otherwise would have, by the attack on Hawaii. Japan remained in the alliance only because their fate was completely intertwined with that of Germany. If Germany, fall, Japan has no chance of victory. If Germany wins, Japan probably can hold onto the bulk of their conquests.

Answer 4

Initially it was because both countries opposed Communism. Their first alliance was called the "Anti-Comintern Pact", and was an agreement to help each other if the Soviet Union attacked one of them.

Just before World War II started, Germany and Italy signed the "Pact of Steel". It was initially intended to be a three-way pact along with Japan, but Japan wanted the pact to more strongly focus on stopping the Soviet Union- Japan controlled parts of China that bordered the Soviet Union so they were especially vulnerable to a possible Soviet attack. Additionally, Japan had fought a very short war with the Soviets a few years prior, and lost badly at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol (in modern Mongolia). The negotiations failed, so Japan dropped out.

About a year later, after the war had begun, Japan finally agreed to terms with Germany and Italy. The Tripartite Pact was signed, formally allying the three countries (plus some smaller countries like Hungary and Romania).

Answer 5

Japan joined the "Axis" alliance before World War II (and then reaffirmed it after the war had begun) primarily because it saw in Hitler's Germany a kindred nation-spirit. Japan's warrior-culture valued dominance and conquest, which Nazi Germany also highly valued. In addition, Japan had few other major world-nations with which to ally themselves, and there were various military and economic benefits which close relations with Hitler would bring to Japan.

Answer 6

Hitler actually made the Japanese honorary Aryans (Ehrenarier)

" Adolf Hitler had bestowed the title upon them following the Anti-Comintern Pact on Communism (signed in 1936), and it seemed that they were granted the status not simply for economic, military, or political reasons, but more so because of their apparent racial integrity. In The Political Testament of Adolf Hitler, Hitler stated,

"Pride in one's own race - and that does not imply contempt for other races - is also a normal and healthy sentiment. I have never regarded the Chinese or the Japanese as being inferior to ourselves. They belong to ancient civilizations, and I admit freely that their past history is superior to our own. They have the right to be proud of their past, just as we have the right to be proud of the civilization to which we belong. Indeed, I believe the more steadfast the Chinese and the Japanese remain in their pride of race, the easier I shall find it to get on with them"

That he in fact had held a high opinion of the Japanese for some time before the formation of the Axis is also confirmed by numerous passages in Mein Kampf

Although of a different ethnicity, the Japanese were, in fact, considered by Nazi ideologists such as Heinrich Himmler, as having similar enough qualities with German-Nordic blood to warrant an alliance with them.

Karl Haushofer, a German General, geographer, and geopolitician, whose ideas may have influenced the development of Adolf Hitler's expansionist strategies, saw Japan as the brother nation to Germany"

Answer 7

The revolt of Japanese Military under the gentle rule of Hirohito lead to the Sino-Japanese war. The aggression of the military aligned it with the views of the axis powers in WWII.

Answer 8

They both didn't want their people to die in a war against Germany. They also believed they could become rulers of the world.

Answer 9

because japanis now lots about bilding