What was the relationship between Germany (Nazis) and Japan during WW11? (Britain, general)

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by Moth

Oil/Petrol.

But yes the American and world obsession with that region ain't about falafels.

You got that right, Was there no oil, the West would have never gone there, and they would still be in tribes, riding camels and throwing rocks at each other...

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Moth

Oil/Petrol.
But yes the American and world obsession with that region ain't about falafels.

Absolutely.
All countries pursue policies that they perceive to be in their national interest. Certainly the invasion/liberation (take your pick) of Iraq took place (at least to a large degree) because of that countries oil reserves. Oil is a vital resource and access to it will play a large part in any county's foreign policy. In fact, it was access to oil that was the instigator for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After the Japanese invasion of French Indo-China, the US put an embargo on Japan, cutting them off from many resource - but most importly oil. The Dutch East-Indies followed suit and Japan suddenly found itself with NO source of oil AT ALL. Without oil, the Japanese Navy would be docked and their planes grounded. Without oil the country would grind to a halt.

So, the decision was made to go to war - to secure oil.

So as you see, the invasion/liberation (take your pick) of Iraq was not the first time that decisions were made to secure a vital resource - nor will it be the last.

Does that mean the liberation/invasion (take your pick) was ENTIRELY about securing oil? Of course not - but it was a major consideration, I'm sure - and had there been no oil there, it would never have happened.

As you so eliquently put it - "it ain't about falafels"

Ken

[Tricky D]

People (nations) wage war simply because they are afraid (afraid of their enemy, afraid to run out of energy sources, or afraid of loosing face etc). So they attack 'the enemy' to regain the illusion of control.
Most people who are not insecure do not strike 1st (with weapons or words).

[ESFP]

Actually, Hitler got his ideas from Martin Luther's 1543 book, translated as "On the Jews and their Lies", which advocates prayer books burned, property confiscated, and that fault lies with those who don't slay them. Japan didn't tell Germany or Italy about their planned attack on the U.S., but they hoped it would keep America from halting Japanese expansion. I think the entire Axis had different reasons for entering the war, and used each other as an ally. Had it not been real, it would have made unbelievable fiction.

[Kangaroofarmer]

Originally Posted by questioner2

I always wondered what would have happened if Germany and Japan would have won the Second World War. Would they have worked together to take over the rest of the world? Or would they have gone to war against each other to gain world dominance? Or maybe, they would have left each other alone.

If America would have lost the war, I wonder what the world would be like now. Maybe more efficent and less troubled?

Well, Australia would have been in trouble if Japan had won WW2? , As we were having trouble with them before the USA Entered the war...Even though it's widely thought, That it was never Japans intention to actually Invade, But rather, To try to isolate Australia from the USA and Britian!

Our concern, Was that most of our Troops had been sent to Europe and Africa, To fight along British Forces (Which Angered People and started some Anti-British sentiment!), We were only left with a limited number of Divisons and had to rely mainly on Militia forces, In the Pacific Region....leaving many people fearing of an invasion, Which was heightened when Japan bombed the city of Darwin and other North Coastal towns.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by Kangaroofarmer

Well, Australia would have been in trouble if Japan had won WW2? , As we were having trouble with them before the USA Entered the war...Even though it's widely thought, That it was never Japans intention to actually Invade, But rather, To try to isolate Australia from the USA and Britian!

Our concern, Was that most of our Troops had been sent to Europe and Africa, To fight along British Forces (Which Angered People and started some Anti-British sentiment!), We were only left with a limited number of Divisons and had to rely mainly on Militia forces, In the Pacific Region....leaving many people fearing of an invasion, Which was heightened when Japan bombed the city of Darwin and other North Coastal towns.

Interesting stuff.

I shared some enjoyable pub time with an Aussie once and we discussed WWII. He said one strategy was to use Australia's size advangage, that is if the Japanese invaded, retreat inward and make a stand deeper in Australian territory.

[Kangaroofarmer]

Originally Posted by Moth

Interesting stuff.

I shared some enjoyable pub time with an Aussie once and we discussed WWII. He said one strategy was to use Australia's size advangage, that is if the Japanese invaded, retreat inward and make a stand deeper in Australian territory.

Thats true, If we needed to...We could've worn the Japanese down, By making them fight on our harsh and unfamiliar terrain.

We actually had a number of inland depots at the time (One isn't far from where I live!), To keep supplies away from the coast and in the event of an invasion, These Minor depots could become Major bases if needed?

Overall though, The majority of the Invasion fears Came from the government of the time, Deliberately playing up the threat!

[ArizonaBear]

Not sure if this was posted earlier; but, according to a WW II statesman (Churchill?), the defeat of Japan was not necessarily the defeat of Germany..........but, the defeat of Germany first would have been the ruin of Japan.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Not sure if this was posted earlier; but, according to a WW II statesman (Churchill?), the defeat of Japan was not necessarily the defeat of Germany..........but, the defeat of Germany first would have been the ruin of Japan.

Yeah, Germany was the greater threat - though not necessarily from the Aussie perspective.

Ken

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Even if Germany had won in northern Africa and the UK - then what?? They'd be sitting there, worn out and exhausted of resources, men and supplies - and then have to "hold" all these other coutries.

Hardly anyone in the countries they took over wanted them there, Netherlands, UK (if they had won), France, Belgium, Baltic countries, Norway.

They would have had a HELL of a time keeping things under control, and you can't just sit and do that forever. The resistance would have worn them down from the inside.


Hitler was insane, he thought people would welcome his new wonderful empire. Imagine if your city was taken over by an enemy force. Would you just throw your hands up and start playing by their rules? No, at the very least you'd secretly try and screw up everything they were attempting to accomplish, let alone just outright fighting.

Hitler probably would have held Europe and Africa, Japan would have held Asia. The only country those continents had in common was the USSR...hmm, perhaps Turkey.