It is difficult to grasp the whole picture of World War II from the perspective of Japanese history alone, so I have summarized it in a table so that it can be understood from both the perspective of world history and the perspective of Japanese history. We plan to make it available as a site map in the future.
World War I was a war centered on Europe, but at the same time it was the first world war in history with the participation of countries far from Europe such as the United States and Japan.
- British influence diminishes
- Increased influence of the United States ... The participation in the United States led to the victory of the Allies, and the voice increased, making it the number one creditor country in the world
- The rise of fascist nations such as the Nazis (After the epidemic of imperialism)
It can be said that it was a battle in which multiple elements leading to World War II came out.
In addition, America Isolation is the basis of foreign policy that Europe is not involved in the conflict to enjoy its independence and prosperity However, the target is "Europe". In fact, it has ruled the islands of the eastern Pacific since the 1860s, and is actively involved in its interests in China (famous for its efforts to share interests in railways after the Russo-Japanese War).
As a result, as a result of Japan and the United States trying to acquire their respective interests, they will collide. In addition, ideological conflicts (democracy / socialism, capitalism / communism), changes in power relations between countries, market competition, etc. have become intertwined and complicated.
Flow until World War II
| year | Events in Japan | Foreign movements | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | The world's first successful socialist revolution [Russia] | A revolution emerged from the exhaustion of World War I (1914-1918) | |
| Ishii-Lansing Agreement Tie [Japan and the United States] An agreement signed during World War I. | What is the Ishii-Lansing Agreement ■ The United States recognizes Japan's special interests in China (rights and interests in Manchuria acquired during the Russo-Japanese War, etc.) ■ Japan allows China to open its doors (all countries have equal opportunities for commercial and industrial activities) The agreement between Japan and the United States | ||
| 1919 | Treaty of Versailles Conclusion World War I Peace Treaty | ■ South Sea Islands (Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands) become Japanese rule ■ A treaty that is unacceptable to Germany will lead to the rise of the Nazis later ■ The establishment of the League of Nations is decided | |
| Sun Yat-sen is Kuomintang Formed [Middle] Inauguration of Comintern [So] | ■ What is Comintern International organization by communist parties | ||
| 1920 | Postwar Depression Begins | Germany's compensation payments are delayed and inflation progresses | |
| Join the League of Nations and become a permanent member of the Security Council | |||
| 1921 | Mao Zedong et al. Chinese Communist Party Formed | ||
| Washington Conference Held Three treaties have been signed | Navy Arms Restriction Treaty (US, UK, Japan, France, Italy) Restrictions on possession of battleships and aircraft carriers Four-Power Treaty (Japan, US, UK and France) =Under the situation where the conflict between Japan and the United States is foreseen on the Chinese continent, the United States strongly advised the United Kingdom to abolish the alliance because the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was an obstacle (the United States had increased its voice in WW1). It is said to be a disguise to destroy the alliance. Nine-Power Treaty on China Ishii-Abolition of Lansing-Ishii Agreement, Opening of Chinese Students and Equal Opportunity ⇒ A blow to Japan aiming to advance to the continent | ||
| 1923 | Anglo-Japanese Alliance expires [Japanese-English] | ■ Great Kanto Earthquake
● Industrial area is severely damaged | |
| Great Kanto Earthquake | |||
| 1924 | Kuomintang and Communist Party build a cooperative system (=national cooperation) [Middle] | ||
| 1925 | Kuomintang National Government in Guangzhou Established [Middle] | ← Guangzhou =South China, US and UK support | |
| 1926 | Kuomintang Is moving north (=Northern Expedition) with the support of the Chinese Communist Party to unify China [Middle] | ■ Increased influence of the Chinese Communist Party ⇒ Shanghai Coup d'etat in April 1927 (Kuomintang cracks down on the Communist Party) =National co-operation collapses ■ Northern Expedition is an unacceptable event for Japan because its interests in Manchuria may be harmed. | |
| 1927 | ■ Failed to process bad bills from the earthquake ⇒ Financial Crisis To ■ Supporting the Japanese government (to prevent northern expedition) Zhang Zuolin, the general commander of the Manchurian warlord ⇒ Zhang Zuolin is defeated (later Zhang Zuolin bombing case) ⇒ Part of the Kwantung Army is seeking direct control of Manchuria | ■ Nanjing Massacre [Middle] Raids and plunders consulates in Japan, Britain and the United States ■ Hankou Incident [Middle] Looting, robbing, and killing in the Japanese concessions | ⇒ Developed into the Hankou incident by taking a weak diplomacy ⇒Critique of the government from inside and outside =Public opinion boosts some movements of the Kwantung Army⁇ |
| 1928 | Northern Expedition Completed | ■ Jinan Incident Military clash between the National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Army | |
| Jinan Incident [Japan-China] | |||
| 1929 | Great Depression [From the United States but spread to the world] | US:New Deal Policy (Large-scale Public Works) Britain and France:Economic zone (=block economy) in the sphere of influence of your own country ⇒ Countries without colonies are in trouble | |
| 1931 | Manchurian Incident [Daytime] The South Manchuria Railway track acquired by Japan in the Russo-Japanese War is blown up. Actually, it is a self-made performance by the Kwantung Army, but as a result of the Chinese Army, military action is taken in the Manchuria Railway area for self-defense. | ■ Japanese militarism revealed ⇒ Increased alertness to Japan [US] ■ In Japan, if there is Manchuria due to repeated depressions ... It was this year that Yosuke Matsuoka said, "Manchuria is the lifeline of Japan." | |
| 1932 | Founding of Manchuria [Daytime] | ■ Founding of Manchuria The birth of a Japanese puppet state with Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, as the consul. ■ May 15 Incident Nationalists supply funds and weapons where disarmament is raising dissatisfaction with the reduction of the Navy's budget. ⇒Since then, Navy officials have become prime ministers for two consecutive generations. | |
| May 15 Incident Navy young officers assassinated Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai | |||
| 1933 | Withdrawal from the League of Nations | Hitler becomes prime minister [Germany] | ⇒ Germany will strengthen the dictatorship system from now on |
| 1935 | Comintern 7th Tournament Held [So] Anti-fascist unification front, popular front line raised | ■ What is the Popular Front A joint front formed to counter fascism that has increased since 1934 (=two or more groups become a cooperative system for the purpose) | |
| 1936 | February 26 Incident After a faction battle between the Imperial Way Faction and the Toseiha inside the Army, the Imperial Way Faction used the army to kill several great people and occupy Nagatacho. | Xi'an Incident [Middle] | ■ After the February 26 Incident ⇒ The army's voice will increase within the government, centered on the Toseiha
■ What is the Xi'an Incident The case where Chiang Kai-shek was abducted and confined. After this incident, joint anti-Japanese demonstrations and second-country co-operation were urged. Zhang Zuolin's son, who was killed by the Japanese army, is the central figure. ■ Japan-Germany Anti-Comintern Pact Japan-Germany agreement with Comintern. Later, he joined Italy and was finally strengthened to the Tripartite Pact of Japan, Germany and Italy. Japan had the purpose of restraining the Soviet Union and preventing international isolation. |
| Japan-Germany Anti-Comintern Pact [Japan-Germany] | |||
| 1937 | Marco Polo Bridge Incident ⇒ Sino-Japanese War Start | ■ Spanish Civil War begins ■ Nazi Air Force raids Guernica, Spain | ■ Spanish Civil War The battle between the Spanish People's Front government, which is composed of socialists and the Communist Party, and the military under Franco's command. ■ Sino-Japanese War The conflict between Japan and China, which used to be skirmishes, has evolved into a full-scale war. ■ Civil war and skirmishes begin to appear in Europe |
| Tripartite Pact of Japan, Germany and Italy [Japan, Germany and Italy] | |||
| 1938 | ■ Announcement of Konoe Statement First Konoe Statement Statement to end negotiations with the National Government Second Konoe Statement Construction of the East Asian New Order Third Konoe Statement Three Principles on Coordination between Japan and China ⇒ The Sino-Japanese War is swamped ■ National Mobilization Law Enactment It can be inferred that a total war is assumed. | ■ Nazis annex Austria [Dual Alliance] ■ Czechoslovakia is dismantled by Germany, Hong (=Hungary), and waves (=Poland) (independence, protected national territory, war after independence, etc.) (-1939) ■ Start of persecution of Jews [Germany] | ■ About Konoe Statement Peace negotiations are conducted through German mediation, but fail. Issued a statement
[Japanese side] ● On the front line, Japan won a series of consecutive victories, and I wanted to set a peace condition that would put me in an advantageous position to make peace. ● Stand play by some troops was conspicuous, and I could not take a policy without contradiction. [Chinese side] ● After the fall of the Qing dynasty, the Kuomintang government was established, but internal turmoil is occurring. ● I was wearing the backing of other countries =I was bullish ● If the Kuomintang and the Communist Party coexist and peace between Japan and China is achieved, the side that appeals for peace could be dragged down as a "seller". * There seems to be some doubts about the darkness of the Communist spy (=Hidemi Ozaki) involved in peace. ■ Second Konoe Statement Corrected the part that the national government does not deal with. Aiming for separation within the Kuomintang ■ Third Konoe Statement During discussions, China's Manchuria approval and the signing of the "Japan-China talks record" to withdraw Japanese troops from China within two years, but the actual statement lacked an agreement to withdraw Japanese troops. P> ■ After WW1, the collapse of Germany, the 墺, and Russia created a nation-state in Eastern European countries, but the ethnic distribution was complicated and conflicts were repeated. ⇒ Emerging countries maintain independence with the help of neighboring powers ⇒ There was a bargain between the big powers behind and trying to give their own country an advantage in connection with the independence of the small powers (demolition and conversion to protected nations are part of that) |
| 1939 | ■ Franco's administration dominates in the Spanish Civil War ⇒British and French approved by Franco administration ■ German-Polish Non-Aggression Treaty [Dokunami] ■ Germany-Italy Military Alliance Concluded | ||
| The Battle of Khalkhin [Japan-Soviet] Notification of the abolition of the Japan-US Trade and Navigation Treaty [Japan ← US] | ■ What is the Battle of Khalkhin Large-scale military clash between Japan and the Soviet Union over the border line in Manchuria ■ Reason for notifying the abolition of the Japan-US Trade and Navigation Treaty In Japan, the military restricts traffic in the British concessions to solve diplomatic problems. Since the concessions are tied to the interests of each country, traffic restrictions will harm other countries. However, Britain compromised day by day. However, the United States, which saw the situation seriously, notified the abolition of the treaty. Is it also a distant cause that there have been several incidents in which Japan hindered China's interests from the perspective of the United States? ■ Impact of the abolition of the Japan-US Trade and Navigation Treaty A policy to ban the export of oil and iron will also be possible. ⇒ In a situation where it becomes difficult to continue the war | ||
| ■ Abe Cabinet no war intervention Announced. The US Cabinet, which was established in January the following year, follows that route. | ■ Germany-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty Concluded ■ Nazi Germany wave invasion ■ Declaration of war on Germany from Britain, France, moat, Kanan (=South Africa) ■ Seo invades the eastern part of the wave ■ Seo invades Feng (=Finland) | World War II Begins The theater immediately after the start of the war was limited to Europe and Africa. | |
| 1940 | ■ Establishment of Nanjing Government [Middle] Established by Wang Jingwei of the National Government according to the East Asian New Order ■ Orchid, White (=Belgium), France loses to Germany ■ Front expansion in many parts of Europe | ■ Reason for non-intervention in the war Since he signed a German-Soviet non-invasion treaty during the battle with the Soviet Union in the Battle of Khalkhin, he decided not to intervene in the German war. ■ Establishment of Nanjing Government Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei in the idea of peace in the Sino-Japanese War at the time of the second Konoe statement. Thou, who appeals for "peace and anti-communist country," has been removed from the Kuomintang. Furthermore, because the Kuomintang aimed for his life, he was aiming to establish a new government within the occupied territories of Japan. ■ Among the support from Britain and the United States to China during the Sino-Japanese War, the route via the French Indochina territory is the largest. Under such circumstances, France was defeated by Germany and the peace sect came to power, so during the turmoil, negotiations were held to close the French Indochina route and accept Japanese military advisers (although there was opposition), they were accepted. | |
| ■ Japanese troops are stationed in Indochina territory in northern France ■ Tripartite Pact of Japan, Germany and Italy Conclusion | |||
| 1941 | ■ The Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty was established ■ Japanese troops stationed in Indochina territory in southern France ⇒ Hull Note Connect to [Japan and the United States] | ■ Southern France's territory A decisive crack between Japan and the United States as the Japanese troops in the French Indochina restrained the troops of other countries. ⇒ This led to a ban on oil exports to Japan and a freeze on Japanese assets. By the way, it is said that Japan's oil reserves at that time were one and a half years. ⇒ Invasion of other Southeast Asia is inevitable to secure resources =Battle with the suzerains of Southeast Asia is essential ■ Pacific War The War of the Pacific is treated as part of World War II because it involves not only the conflict between Japan and the United States but also the battles with European countries in Southeast Asia. | |
| Germany urges Japan to participate in the Soviet-Japanese War but refuses | Germany, Bao, and Hong start war with Seo | ||
| December 8 Attack on Pearl Harbor [Japan and the United States] ⇒ Pacific War begins | |||
I think there are various definitions for the name of the war, but this time it is a general Sino-Japanese War / Pacific War.
Initially, World War II, which began in Europe, evolved into a global-scale war that expanded to the Asia-Pacific with the participation of Japan and the United States.