The Anti-Comintern Pact was an anti-Communist pact concluded between Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan (later to be joined by other, mainly fascistic, governments) on November 25, 1936 and was directed against the Communist International (Comintern).

In the picture is the Japanese ambassador to Germany Kintomo Mushakoji and Foreign Minister of Germany Joachim von Ribbentrop, sign the Anti-Comintern Pact

When Japan was at it’s desperate state of needing resources for life sustenance for their nation, Japan decided to expand their territories via military invasion against china. 

Japan entered into conflict against the Chinese in 1937. The Japanese invasion and occupation of parts of China resulted in numerous atrocities against civilians, such as the Nanking massacre and the Three Alls Policy. 

The Japanese also fought skirmishes with Soviet–Mongolian forces in Manchukuo in 1938 and 1939. Japan sought to avoid war with the Soviet Union by signing a non-aggression pact with them in 1941.

Japan’s military leaders were divided on Japan’s diplomatic relationships with Germany and Italy. The united states attitude towards Japan changed for the worst.

War with the United States was being discussed within the Japanese government by 1940.

However, the United States instituted an embargo against Japan in 1941 because of the continuing war in China. This cut off Japan’s supply of scrap metal and oil needed for industry, trade, and the war effort


Article taken from wikipedia.org