1940 Tripartite Pact
Summar
A defence alliance signed on September 27, 1940, by Germany, Italy, and Japan, intended to deter the United States from entering World War II by creating a united front against potential threats.
- recognized the “leadership” of Germany and Italy in Europe and Japan in “Greater East Asia”
- a commitment to mutual military, economic, and political assistance if any of the signatories were attacked by a power not already involved in the European or Sino-Japanese conflicts. –Google
- 1940 September 27: Pact signed in Berlin
- late 1930s were dominated by aggressive German expansionism in Europe and Japanese expansionism in Asia
- alliance formed to counterbalance major Allied powers + further own interests
- pact explicitly stated that any signatories attacked by a power not involved in the war would have the other two coming to its defence
Implications of the Pact
- strategic: intended to discourage the U.S. from supporting Britain or joining the war
- Japan saw it as a counterbalance to the increasing Soviet Union threat
- economic: Japan developed stronger economic ties to 🇩🇪 Germany and 🇮🇹 Italy → diversifying its trade away from the U.S., with whom their relations were deterioriating
- political: alliance gave Japan global stature & prestige
- portrayed Japan as part of a formidable bloc against the Allied powers
- ‘split up’ the world; Europe for German & Italian leadership, East Asia for Japan
- alliance was ultimately largely symbolic; geographical distance limited practical military strategic cooperation
- each power surrendered separately and fought in separate theatres
Relevance
- [] [5.02 The Move To Global Wa]: the pact’s defensive clauses → Germany & Italy declare war on U.S. after 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour → influenced American entry into the war
- intended to prevent the U.S. from joining the Allies
- [] [1931-1941 Japanese expansionis]:
- solidified partnership between Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy & Imperial Japan → shared ideology of transforming global political structures & creating new world order away from the Allied powers
- defined spheres of influence