2.+++++++Axis+Powers+and+the+Tripartite+Pac

http://www.arthistoryclub.com/art_history/World_war_II
 * [[image:Hitlermusso.jpg caption="Hitler and Mussolini"]] ||
 * Hitler and Mussolini ||

Name: Adolf Hitler Occupation: Fuhrer of Germany Birth Date: 20 April, 1889 Date of Incident: September 27, 1940 Aspirations: To rid the world of the unwanted races and to create a new world order

The Tripartite pact, signed in 1940 by Germany, Italy, and Japan, established the Axis power in Europe. The Axis, a term coined by Benito

Mussolini to describe the Rome-Berlin axis around which the other European countries could revolve (“Axis” 1). This treaty was aimed at

keeping the United States, the only major world power not directly involved in World War II, out of the fighting (Danzer 551). The treaty

stated that each participation nation undertook, “to assist one another with all political, economic and military means when one of the three

contracting powers is attacked”. This meant that if the United States engaged in battle with any of the three nations included, the remaining

two would come to the aid of the other, forcing the United States into a two front war, fighting Japan in the Pacific, and Germany and Italy in

Europe (“Tripartite” 1). This alliance intimidated the U.S. and gave the American people further reason to not want to get involved in the war.

However, when Japan bombed the U.S. at Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was forced into war with Japan. As Japan had attacked the U.S. and not

the other way around, Germany and Italy were not bound, by the Tripartite Treaty, to declare war on the U.S.; but Germany declared war

against the U.S. and they were forced onto two fronts (“Tripartite” 2). The Axis included many other countries other than Germany, Italy and

Japan. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, France, and Japanese puppet state Manchukuo were all part of the Axis power and

encompassed by the Tripartite Treaty (“Axis” 1). The Tripartite Treaty was a desperate attempt by the Germans to contain the war to

Europe and exclude the United States from direct military action for as long as possible. It also divided Europe and Asia into three spheres

of interest for Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Axis alliance unified many European and Asian countries against the Allied powers in hopes

of winning World War II.

Works Cited

"Axis Power." __NationMaster__. 2003. 20 Oct. 2008 .

"Tripartite Treaty." __KnowledgeRush__. 2003. 20 Oct. 2008 .

Danzer, Gerald, et al. "America Moves Toward War." __The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century__. United

States: McDougal Littell, 2005. 551.