The Japanese and German Alliance / What once was….
Alliances during a war can change the outcome, but the alliance between Japan and Germany is one that baffles many people. Most people can understand why Japan went to war with America, but why did the Imperial nation join forces with Nazi Germany? To understand the Tripartite Pact which created the Axis Powers, a look further back in history is needed.
Both Germany and Imperial Japan arrived on the international stage in the mid-1800s. Japan was forced out of isolation and started rapid westernization in 1854. Germany had been a number of city-states before Prussia won the Franco-Prussian war and united all of them in 1871.
Before Germany became a country of its own, Prussia and a newly open Japan had a very friendly relationship. Prussia had been going through a modernization effort with the speed and efficiency that the Germans are known for. This led Japan to view them as a good role model, as Japan wanted to modernize in a similarly effective manner.
To this end, Japan hired many Prussian and German advisers to help them with modernization. These advisers brought the militaristic approach to modernization which worked in Prussia, and later Germany, to Japan.
However, this cozy relationship ended when both nations decided to follow the other major powers and look for colonies.
The problem that Germany faced with its colonization efforts was the fact that the Age of Exploration was coming to an end.
The other major powers of the time had been colonizing the world for years, so all the areas Germany would have considered first were already colonized. This led Germany to turn east and start colonizing different areas of Asia. At the same time, Japan was also looking for colonies and saw their best options in East Asia. This was the same area the Germans were operating in and led to a cooling of the relationship between these nations.
Japan also started to become friendly with Great Britain at this time, which would affect the relationship between Japan and Germany during World War I.
When WWI broke out in 1914, Japan allied with Britain. After the Allies won the war, Japan was quick to take over the former German colonies in Asia.
While this would normally sour relationships between countries, Japan and Germany’s friendship would reignite in the post-WWI world.
After the war, Germany was not in a good place and was forced to sign an incredibly harsh treaty by the Allied Powers. This led to the crash of the government and economy as well as the rise of the Nazi Party.
In addition, the newly formed League of Nations was unpopular in Germany, and Japan was not a fan of it either.
The League of Nations was not very fair to Japan. Japan would often be punished by the league for its actions against its neighbors.
This sowed the seeds of discontent because the leaders of the League, France and Great Britain, often conducted the same actions against their own colonies. This hypocrisy would lead to Japan withdrawing from the League of Nations.
As the Nazi Party gained power, Hitler created strong ties with China. However, he changed course and started to view Japan as a more strategic partner in Asia. For its part, Japan wanted to continue expanding, and saw rebuilding its relationship with Germany as beneficial to this goal.
The renewed relationship between Japan and Germany was still fragile when WWII broke out. In the early stages of the war, Japan was strongly allied with Germany, but not involved militarily in the war.
Their relationship was one of mutual benefit rather than a complete alliance, since Japan was more focused on exerting its influence in East Asia.
The true alliance of Japan and Germany would only come about when Japan entered the war. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and other American bases, it led to America declaring war on the Imperial nation.
In response, Germany declared war on America, and thus further strengthened their relationship with Japan. The Tripartite Pact created the Axis Powers, allying Germany, Japan, Italy and a number of smaller countries.
The alliance between Japan and Germany during WWII may seem strange and an odd pairing which did not yield much in terms of results.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Andrew Benjock – Pittsburgh, PA; USMC, WWII, PTO/CBI, Korea, radioman, Master Gunnery Sgt. (Ret. 31 y.)
Allan Brown – Toronto, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
Dan Darden – Montgomery, AL; US Army Air Corps, WWII
Ralph Esposito – Mahopac, NY; US Coast Guard, WWII
Margaret Fish – CA; US Women’s Marine Corps, WWII
Murphy Neal Jones Sr. – Baton Rouge, LA; US Air Force, Vietnam, POW (6½ y., Hanoi Hilton)
Fred Knodle – Cincinnati, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, 187/11th Airborne Division, Medical unit
Robert Messel – Vincennes, IN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, West Point grad
Jack O’Neil – North Haven, CT; US Army, WWII & Korea, Chief Warrant Officer 4
Jocelyn Todd – Aiken, SC; US Army WAC, WWII
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Posted on February 7, 2019, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Germany, History, Japan, Military, Military History, nostalgia, Politics, war, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 91 Comments.
Excellent post! This is an important piece of history and I’m glad you shared it with us. Keep up the great work, GP.
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Thank you, Steve. I’ve had people ask, so this was only right to include. Both those nations believed in utter excellence, it is only logical that they would want to “compare notes” and keep an eye on each other. 🙂
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An interesting history lesson, GP. Alliances between countries can be quite complicated and hard to comprehend.
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It was for me at first, but it was explained that they both prided themselves on excellence, so they put their personal feelings aside.
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Interesting! 😀
Add information,
Many people do not know the strong relationship between “Poland and Japan”,even though during WW2.
Japan saved Jews and Polish in about 1920’s.
There was also a plan to rescue Jews to Manchuria (postscript; the last Emperor in Manchuria and Japan was very close).
Because there was a relationship of Trust, it was thanks to Poland that Japan could stop the Soviet Union(Yalta) after WW 2.
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I am not a scholar of the European War, but do know about Chiune Sugihara, Japanese Ambassador to Lithuania who saved thousands of Jews during the war.
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It’s not even odd cuz culturally the Japanese and Germans even till modern day relate to each other (engineering and a pursuit of perfection).
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Very true. Thank you for helping to clarify this, Greg.
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Reblogged this on Musings of a Penpusher and commented:
A great history lesson made very readable by an astute amateur historian who always manages to unearth a worthwhile snippet missed by everyone else. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for sharing this article, Maureen.
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So interesting, GP. The children’s propaganda poster was quite something!
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To accomplish complete control, they had to start with the children, I’m afraid.
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Yes, I think you are right, GP. Sad indeed!
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A great, readable summation. Like so many others, I knew the fact of German-Japanese cooperation (as well as something of the role of Italy) but I didn’t know any of this backstory. While the differences in cultures would seem to have made the German-Japanese alliance improbable, culture often takes a back seat to other concerns.
I don’t know enough about the role of the Emperor in Japan, however. It may be that the strongly paternalistic role he played made Hitler more understandable to the Japanese. That’s just a hunch, though. More exploration’s necessary!
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You just might have hit on something there, Linda. That hadn’t even occurred to me. Thank you.
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Ha! I can relate to Beetle’s problem, GP. I’ve always said I’m a human sushi bar for mosquitoes.
This is a great educational post. The way you presented it kept me reading. Yes, I had sometimes thought it was odd that Japan and Germany were partnered in war. I didn’t realize Germany had been a model of efficiency, thinking that must have originated in Japan.
Well, done GP. Happy weekend hugs.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Teagan!!
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Great information, GP! Thank you, and have a beautiful weekend! Michael
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Thank you very much, Michael. People have often wondered what could bring such 2 different groups together as they did in WWII.
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So true, GP! I wondered myself too. But now I understand. Thank you, and have a beautiful weekend. Michael
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Thank you. You do as well!
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:-))
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Japan and Nazis stuck together? Here is my crazy view point since it is human relationships and the last time I checked countries are made of humans. it was a good move from FDR to put a stop on the Japaneese to have an embargo on oil.
The US population was isiolationist in general, so that was a good move to intentionally or unitentionally( wishfull thinking) but certainly with some objective in mind, he put the Japaneese in a position to strike the US. A tragedy? Ofcourse. But if I think it not in a passionate heartfelt sense, but objectivally. It was a good move on his part to bring the people together for one cause. Hence we do have a batter planet doday, not perfect but I would not want some sore long lost father of Hitler to be telling me now in 2019 how you have to behave. The two are the same, one are white the others asians, but the goals weare the same.
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Quite right, Priest. Looking at them with our eyes makes the unity a case of ‘strange bedfellows’, but you understand why. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you very much, John.
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You are welcome very much.
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This has been a blind spot in my understanding of how Germany and Japan became allies. Great summary.
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Thank you, Mike. It was about time I explained it, eh? 🙂
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Really fascinating. One of those rather worrying what if images.
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Strange bedfellows, and all that, eh?!
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Thank you for this post. Very interesti ng!
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It answers a question many have posed. I appreciate you taking the time to read it.
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thanks, Rick!
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Thanks for the history lesson
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My pleasure, Rick – it’s sort of ‘my thing’! 🙂
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The enemy of my enemy – is my friend.
Have you written a post on why Japan attacked America – the politics leading up to that strike on Pearl Harbour. If you have, please share that link.
Thank you 🙂
Eric
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I did the history of the East and West in a series, going back (like in this post) to try and fully explain how such a clash came about. It starts….
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Great topic- I’d run into some info about tensions between Japan and the Allies, but not much on just HOW they and Germany ended up connected. Thanks for writing on this!
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Thanks for reading it, Anne. I question often asked. They did seem to be unlikely allies.
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Something always strikes me in your articles, that maybe others are not thinking about. I can see countries wanting to be friends with Germany as they did seem ahead of their time in scientific and mechanical knowledge. Look how much the Germans that were brought here during the war contributed to the development of our space program and technological development.
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I see your point, Bev, and I agree. While the scientists were improving German life, Hitler was giving pride back to the country that was so crest-fallen due to WWI. Top all that with a ‘common enemy’ (the Jews) and you have control and power. Looking through their eyes, it would have been difficult to see how it would all turn out.
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Having three kids in college, I really appreciated your military humor on this post!! 🙂 🙂 (Of course the post is interesting as well-I’m a student when I’m on your site…always learning something new!)
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Three in college?!! EGAD! I can well understand why you enjoyed the humor.
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Thanks for that, it certainly fills in the gaps and makes sense of what appears on the face of it, to be a peculiar alliance indeed. Very interesting.
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Thank you. It was quite an ‘Odd Couple” type of alliance.
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Interesting history!
I have a post, A Siegfried Pillbox, Jan 13, 2019 that you may want to view.
My father-in-law was in WWII from Normandy to Berlin.
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Sorry I had missed that before. It is a good one. Remembering Dad!!
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Yes! True hero’s of WWII!
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I wonder what Hitler had planned for Japan post victory over the allies. Could not have been a lasting alliance. Super post, GP
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If they had both won, Japan’s larger territory and population may have just kept Hitler away from them – sort of a don’t bother me and I won’t bother you, sort of pact. Hitler didn’t like the Japanese, but I don’t think he’d want to try and rule them.
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I believe you are right. Good book idea though.
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Too much would have to be taken into consideration for me to ever attempt it!!!
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Thank you for this excellent discussion of how the Axis alliance came to be. Always wondered about the background. (Old enough to remember bits of WWII.)
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Unfortunately, for most of us, school never explained in detail.
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you very much, Dave.
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That was interesting. I’m embarrassed to say this isn’t a topic I’ve spent much time thinking about. I guess ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ doesn’t quite cover it.
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That might have been what Italy was thinking. Glad you found it interesting, Jacqui.
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Thanks for this summary. I have wondered about it. I question, however, your comments about the League of Nations. No other country at the time was doing anything comparable to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
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Not at the time, Europe and the US had already claimed territory in the Pacific years before.
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Amazing that this perspective is so little known. It is as instructive to know the intrigues before war, as the outcome. Or maybe I slept through history lessons.
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I doubt you did. Most schools had you read snippets of history and then tested you on the names and dates. Right?
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Right. And that made history loathsome. Names and dates without context.
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Agreed. They couldn’t have made more boring for kids!!
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Interesting post. As I was reading it, I was struck by the thought of how important it is to teach and know “real” history … and not simply rewrite everything in the name of political correctness. Understanding history as it actually unfolded is the only way we can keep from repeating the mistakes of the past.
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Thank you, DC. Some people keep asking me why I look to the past. They don’t realize it is the only way to see your future
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A most informative post
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Thank you, Derrick.
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Very interesting read once again GP. I always wondered why Germany and Japan had come together. Makes a lot more sense now.
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At first the do seem to make quite an odd couple, eh?! 🙂
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Couldn’t agree more 😊
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This is fabulous, GP! I never knew any of this and have wondered about myself. Thank you!
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Readers have asked and I’ve given short answers due to time constraints. I figured it was about time to finally answer it fully.
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Great history lesson today. Since Hitler was taking over most of Europe, Japan’s rulers believed it was their destiny to rule Asia. It’s all about power.
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It always is the answer, in one way or the other – money, territory, population – they all = Power.
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Fascinating, GP and a very well written and detailed article. I have often wondered about this alliance but then never explored my curiosity further. I was interested to learn about their earlier cooperation as well, which I never knew about.
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Well, one thing led to another, so the earlier history had to be included.
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It might have seemed an unlikely alliance, until you think of the militarism and strong nationalism that existed in both countries. There was also limited public opposition to the right-wing ideals in Germany and Japan, whereas Italy was more divided politically. I have always imagined that Hitler would have turned on Japan, if the Axis had won that war. He had little regard for Asians, as a race.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I tend to agree with you, Pete, and for the same reasons.
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Thank you, GP, for sharing this little known bit of history! Even though Germany and Japan were allies, they apparently did not trust each other. While the Japanese ambassador was in Berlin, the attack on the Soviet Union was already in the planning stage, but the German government withheld this information. So the Japanese ambassador flew on to Moscow and signed a non-aggression treaty with Stalin.
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And to think we used to say the Orientals were inscrutable, eh? They’ve got nothing on the Soviets!!
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Thanks for this. This has always made me wonder a little bit. I knew about the way Japan was treated by the LoN, but I didn’t know the previous history. We really botched things after WWI, didn’t we.
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Who knew? Hindsight and all that.
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A good over-all presentation of this history!
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Over these years blogging, the question of a Germany/Japan collaboration has been asked – it was about time I answered it properly!!
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It is so hard for me to imagine the delusion of believing any one person could take over the entire world. But every so often, someone does.
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There’s always someone trying, I’m afraid.
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Hitler had to temporarily repress his racism and aversion to “Asiatic peoples” to enter into the Axis alliance. The feelings were probably similar in Tokyo’s power circle. Mussolini was just basically an opportunist along for the ride for what he might get out of the deal.
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That’s about it. He thought he picked the winner – surprise!
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