1. Militarism and the Axis

2. What is the Axis? Why was the Axis set up?
During World War II, a group of nations consisting of Italy, Japan and Germany know as the Axis of Power fought against the Allies.
Why was the Axis set up?
November 1, 1936 – Italy and Germany wanted to destabilize European order, set up the Rome-Berlin axis.
November 25, 1936 – Nazi Germany and Japan signed the “Anti-Comintern” pact against the USSR.
November 6, 1937 – Italy joined the “Anti-Comintern” pact.
September 27, 1940 – Germany, Italy and Japan sign the “Tripartite pact”, finalizing the formation of the Axis of Power.
May 22, 1939 – Germany and Italy signed the “Pact of Steel”.

3. Militarism
All illustrations are not to scale

4. Alliance between Germany and Italy
Sought out an alliance with Germany against France since the early 1920’s.
Wanted the aid of Germany’s military against France.
Italy needed German support as they were having a dispute with Yugoslavia over Fiume.
He used Germany’s want of revenge against France to create an alliance with him.
In 1924, Germany and Italy held meetings, where Germany expressed her lack of arms for a war against France.
Thus, since 1924, Italy had been secretly supplying weapons to Germany.
However, Italy and Germany had a dispute in 1934, which led to the break down of their initial alliance.
Fiume was a “buffer state” between Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovene, now called the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Benito Mussolini

5. Tensions between Italy and Germany
In 1932, the Party of National Unity rose to power in Hungary, and its leader, Gyula Gömbös wanted an alliance with Italy, as it wanted to change its borders set by the Treaty of Trianon.
Italy and Hungary both tried to persuade Austria into forming an alliance with them.
However, Italy was worried that Austria, being mainly German populated, might be taken over by Germany.
In an effort to maintain a good relationship with Germany, Italy allowed Austria to remain a sovereign state.
The Austrian chancellor paid a visit to Mussolini to combat any German advances.
Germany had promised not to attack Austria and accept its independence.
However, on 25 June 1934, Austrian Nazis assassinated Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, and Italy blamed Germany, cutting off ties with the country.
Later, their relationship was mended due to Germany lending support to Italy over its invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 while other nations condemned and imposed sanctions on her.

6. Japan joins the alliance
Talks of a Japanese-German alliance began in 1935 as means of opposing the Soviet Union and the Comintern.
It was met with mixed views in Japan.
It would endanger her alliance with Britain.
Their alliance with Britain allowed it to become such a powerful nation in the first place.
It was popular among the Nazis.
It was against the views of many that had financial interests in China, which Japan was hostile against.
Italy, upon learning of the proposed Japanese-German alliance, also wanted to form an alliance with Japan.
Japan thought that an alliance with Italy would agitate Britain, due to Italy’s condemned attacks on Ethiopia.
Hirohito

7. What was the aim of the Axis during WWII?
Germany
Europe
The aim of the Axis during WWII was to spread their leadership and dominance.
Germany wanted to take over Europe.
Italy, the Mediterranean sea.
Japan, East Asia and the Pacific.
Italy
Mediterranean sea
Japan
East Asia & Pacific

8. Militarism and the Axis
Done by: Chin Yi Fan & Yap Yong Yun