The three countries in the Axis alliance were Germany, Italy, and
Japan. Those three countries recognized German control over most of continental
Europe; Italian control over the Mediterranean Sea; and Japanese domination over
East Asia and the Pacific.
The Axis partners never developed plans to coordinate foreign
or military policy like the Allies, the Axis partners had two common
interests: territorial expansion and foundation of empires based on military
conquest and the overthrowing the World War I international order; and
the destruction or neutralization of Soviet Communism.
On November 1, 1936, Germany and Italy, reflecting their common interest in
destabilizing the European order, announced a Rome-Berlin Axis one week after
signing a treaty of friendship. Nearly a month later, on November 25, 1936, Nazi
Germany and Imperial Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact directed at
the Soviet Union. Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact on November 6, 1937. On
May 22, 1939, Germany and Italy signed the Pact of Steel, formalizing
the Axis alliance with military provisions. Finally, on September 27, 1940,
Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, which became known as the
Axis alliance.
Before the Tripartite Pact, two of the three Axis powers had started
conflicts and become centers of war in World War II. On July 7, 1937,
Japan invaded China to start the war in the Pacific; while the Germans invaded
Poland on September 1, 1939, starting the European war. Italy
entered World War II on the Axis side on June 10, 1940, when France's surrender was imminent.
Japan. Those three countries recognized German control over most of continental
Europe; Italian control over the Mediterranean Sea; and Japanese domination over
East Asia and the Pacific.
The Axis partners never developed plans to coordinate foreign
or military policy like the Allies, the Axis partners had two common
interests: territorial expansion and foundation of empires based on military
conquest and the overthrowing the World War I international order; and
the destruction or neutralization of Soviet Communism.
On November 1, 1936, Germany and Italy, reflecting their common interest in
destabilizing the European order, announced a Rome-Berlin Axis one week after
signing a treaty of friendship. Nearly a month later, on November 25, 1936, Nazi
Germany and Imperial Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact directed at
the Soviet Union. Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact on November 6, 1937. On
May 22, 1939, Germany and Italy signed the Pact of Steel, formalizing
the Axis alliance with military provisions. Finally, on September 27, 1940,
Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, which became known as the
Axis alliance.
Before the Tripartite Pact, two of the three Axis powers had started
conflicts and become centers of war in World War II. On July 7, 1937,
Japan invaded China to start the war in the Pacific; while the Germans invaded
Poland on September 1, 1939, starting the European war. Italy
entered World War II on the Axis side on June 10, 1940, when France's surrender was imminent.