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History of WWII

Unit 1
Axis Powers
Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, JapanCauses of World War II: The Rise of the Axis PowersIdeologies and Goals of the Axis PowersThe Pact of Steel and the Tripartite Pact: Formation of the Axis
Unit 1 • Chapter 3

Ideologies and Goals of the Axis Powers

Video Summary

The Axis Powers, primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan, shared a common desire to overturn the existing international order established after World War I. Germany, led by the Nazi Party, espoused a nationalist and expansionist ideology based on racial superiority and the quest for 'lebensraum' (living space) in Eastern Europe. Italy, under Mussolini's Fascist regime, aimed to restore its past glory and create a vast Italian empire in the Mediterranean. Japan, driven by militarist ambitions, sought dominance in East Asia and the Pacific, viewing itself as a racial and cultural superior. These ideologies fueled aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the outbreak of World War II.

Knowledge Check

Which ideology did Nazi Germany primarily subscribe to?

What was the main goal of Italy's expansionist policies?

What was the Japanese term for their ambition to dominate East Asia and the Pacific?