Though Mussolini gets credit for popularizing the term in the context of the second world war, Janda and Mula say he actually cribbed it from the fascist premier of Hungary, Gyula Gombos, who wanted an “axis” of European power led by Germany that included Italy and Hungary as primary partners.

Then, What if Russia joined the Axis?

If the Soviet Union/USSR joined the Axis in WW2, it would have been a catastrophe. An estimated 3+ million German troops were in the Eastern Front at the start of Operation Barbarossa. This meant that the majority of the German troops were fighting the Russians specifically by the end of the war.

Why did Italy switch sides in ww2? Italy had its own imperial ambitions — partly based on the Roman Empire and similar to the German policy of lebensraum — which clashed with those of Britain and France. Mussolini and Hitler both pursued an alliance between Germany and Italy, but Germany’s Anschluss with Austria was a sticking point.

Keeping this in consideration, Why did Italy join Axis powers?

Italy joined the war as one of the Axis Powers in 1940, as the French Third Republic surrendered, with a plan to concentrate Italian forces on a major offensive against the British Empire in Africa and the Middle East, known as the “parallel war”, while expecting the collapse of British forces in the European theatre.

What happens if US joined Axis?

If the United States did join the Axis powers, it’s entire prewar policy would not move in favor of peaceful isolation but that of expansive military development and not the reactionary type the U.S adopted in our time line. France will likely go the same route of defeat.

What happens if Iran joined Axis?

The first problem Iran would encounter upon joining the Axis would be that it was completely surrounded by hostile powers, British India to the East, Soviets to the North, British invading by sea from the south, and British Iraq to the west.

Why did Italy declare war on Germany?

Ever since Mussolini began to falter, Hitler had been making plans to invade Italy to keep the Allies from gaining a foothold that would situate them within easy reach of the German-occupied Balkans. … On the day of Italy’s surrender, Hitler launched Operation Axis, the occupation of Italy.

Which country switched sides in ww2?

13, 1943 | Italy Switches Sides in World War II – The New York Times.

Why did Japan switch sides in ww2?

When war broke out between Germany and the allied forces of Europe in 1939, a short war was expected by both sides. … When Germany surrendered to the Allied Forces in May 1945, Japan chose to see this surrender as an act of treason and made moves to distance themselves from Germany and its leaders.

Why did Italy betray the Triple Alliance?

In 1911 during the Italo-Turkish war over Libya, Italy asked for military assistance from her allies Austria and Germany. They flatly refused on the grounds that the Alliance was only for defense purpose in case any of the 3 nations got attacked.

Why was Italy so weak in ww2?

Italy was economically weak, primarily due to the lack of domestic raw material resources. Italy had very limited coal reserves and no domestic oil.

How bad was the Italian army in ww2?

Casualties. Nearly four million Italians served in the Italian Royal Army during the Second World War. Nearly one half of a million Italians (including civilians) died between June 1940 and May 1945. The Royal Army suffered 161,729 casualties between 10 June 1940 and 8 September 1943 in the war against the Allies.

What if US never joined ww2?

Without the American entry into World War II, it’s possible Japan would have consolidated its position of supremacy in East Asia and that the war in Europe could have dragged on for far longer than it did. … There was no evidence of the Japanese moving toward Pearl Harbor that was picked up in Washington.”

Would Spain have joined the Axis?

Spain did indeed declare nonbelligerent status, and did sign an understanding that it would eventually join the Tripartite Pact. As late as December 1942, Franco believed that at the right moment, Spain would join the war on the side of the Axis Powers.

Why is it called Axis powers?

The Axis powers, originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis, was a military coalition that fought in World War II against the Allies. … Benito Mussolini declared on 1 November 1936 that all other European countries would from then on rotate on the Rome–Berlin axis, thus creating the term “Axis”.

What if Portugal joined the Axis?

Spain suffered civil war and its regime later joined Axis side, only to find themselves neutrality. So, if Portugal and Spain joined the war, Portugal would definitely be on British side, and Spain would be invaded. But not without Portuguese instability from a Spanish and Vichy French invasion.

What if Italy did not join ww2?

If for some reason, Italy chooses to remain neutral when WWII comes, there would still be a Balkan campaign but Germany would probably not be involved in it since there’s no reason for it to attack Greece, Albania and Yugoslavia (there are some historical notes which states that Nazi Germany has no plans of going south …

Why didnt Japan help Germany?

Short answer: They were busy with conquering islands in the Pacific,and they just did not want to gain a new enemy due to already fighting China,and later,America. They had other plans,they wanted to conquer as many pacific islands as they could.

Why did so many Chinese died in World War 2?

The sheer incompetence and corruption of the Chinese government added millions of victims to the millions raped and murdered by the Japanese. … Without the war, the Chinese Communists would never have defeated the Nationalists. The Sino-Japanese War killed between 14 and 20 million Chinese people.

What if Japan never joined the Axis?

So what happens if Japan doesn’t join the Axis Powers? What most likely happens is that Japan still decides to attack Pearl Harbor and Southeast Asia. In this scenario, the war goes on in the Pacific like in our timeline, but it ends even faster. The U.S. divided its strength by sending forces to both Europe and Asia.

Why did Japan attack us?

The Japanese intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Why did Japan join Axis powers?

The Japanese government justified its actions by claiming that it was seeking to unite East Asia under Japanese leadership in a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere that would free East Asians from domination and rule by clients of Western powers.

Which side was Italy on in World War II?

Italy entered World War II on the Axis side on June 10, 1940, as the defeat of France became apparent.

Who side was Italy on in ww1?

On May 23, 1915, Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary, entering World War I on the side of the Allies—Britain, France and Russia.