HITLER BUILDS A BLOC – 'THE AXIS’

In section 8 of this unit – the Historiography – you will come across the idea that one of the pre-conditions for a war is when there is 'polarisation into 2 hostile blocs, neither bloc preponderant'.

When Hitler came to power in 1933, he had neither allies nor strength, but that changed as the decade wore on:

Rome-Berlin Axis, 1 Nov 1936

After the collapse of the Stresa Front in 1935, Mussolini was disenchanted with France and no longer trusted Britain, so he decided that the best way to be safe from Hitler was an alliance between Germany and Italy.  The alliance (called the ‘Axis’) included agreements on trade, and mutual defence if either was attacked.  In addition Mussolini agreed to help Germany win colonies I Africa, and to keep Hitler up to date with what was happening in the League.

Anti-Comintern Pact, 24 Nov 1936

In Europe, Hitler regarded Communist Russia as Germany’s main danger.  In the Pacific Japan  was trying to create an empire called the ‘Co-Prosperity Sphere’ and was clashing with Soviet Russia over fishing rights.

The Comintern was the bloc of Communist countries, and at their 7th Congress in 1935, delegates were told that the fascist governments of Germany and Italy were the main threats to world peace, and that communist countries should try to make alliances with democracies to resist them.

In July 1936, the Spanish Civil War broke out, with Germany and Italy supporting the Spanish Nationalists, and Soviet Russia helping the Republican side.

On 24 November, 1936, Germany and Japan in public signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, promising ‘measures of information and defence’ against the Comintern. A secret protocol established a military and diplomatic partnership against the Soviet Union.

Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, 1937

Italy decided to align herself with Germany and Japan.

Pact of Steel, May 1939

Hitler and Mussolini signed an alliance promising to cooperate on the economy, foreign policy and military planning, with a secret protocol which promised to coordinate newspapers and propaganda.

Tripartite Pact, 1940

After the Second World War started, Germany, Italy and Japan agreed to coordinate their military campaigns – Hitler had his bloc.