The Axis Leaders of World War II
The Axis Alliance was made up of three countries Germany, Italy, and Japan and here are their leaders:
Germany, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945):
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Adolf Hitler was born in April 20, 1889 in an Upper Austrian border town Braunau am Inn. Adolf's father "Alois Hitler (1837-1903) was a mid-level customs official, Alois Schickelgruber changed his name in 1876 to Alois Hitler." [2] Adolf Hitler was a failed artist and an aimless drifter before he joined the army on the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was considered not worthy of a promotion because a "lack of leadership qualities" Adolf did get awarded the Iron Cross First Class that showed that he didn't lack courage [3]. Adolf Hitler embarked on his political journey in September 1919 at the age of thirty. During the next twenty-six years Adolf " succeeded in gaining and exercising supreme power in Germany and, in the process, arguably had more impact on the history of the world in the 20th century than any other political figure" [3]. Hitler found himself in a nation that was in a deep crisis. Hitler's "political career began in Munich when he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), a tiny group of extreme nationalists and anti-Semites who saw their role as trying to win over German workers from the internationalist Social Democratic Party and in the aftermath of defeat and revolution, to persuade people that Jews were primarily responsible for Germany's plight" [3]. Hitler renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), less than 12 years later, it had become the largest party in Germany and Hitler
was Reich Chancellor [3].
Adolf Hitler was born in April 20, 1889 in an Upper Austrian border town Braunau am Inn. Adolf's father "Alois Hitler (1837-1903) was a mid-level customs official, Alois Schickelgruber changed his name in 1876 to Alois Hitler." [2] Adolf Hitler was a failed artist and an aimless drifter before he joined the army on the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was considered not worthy of a promotion because a "lack of leadership qualities" Adolf did get awarded the Iron Cross First Class that showed that he didn't lack courage [3]. Adolf Hitler embarked on his political journey in September 1919 at the age of thirty. During the next twenty-six years Adolf " succeeded in gaining and exercising supreme power in Germany and, in the process, arguably had more impact on the history of the world in the 20th century than any other political figure" [3]. Hitler found himself in a nation that was in a deep crisis. Hitler's "political career began in Munich when he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), a tiny group of extreme nationalists and anti-Semites who saw their role as trying to win over German workers from the internationalist Social Democratic Party and in the aftermath of defeat and revolution, to persuade people that Jews were primarily responsible for Germany's plight" [3]. Hitler renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), less than 12 years later, it had become the largest party in Germany and Hitler
was Reich Chancellor [3].
Italy, Benito Mussolini (1883-1945):
Picture: [1]
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Forlì, Italy. Benito "was an ardent socialist as a youth, following in his father's political footsteps" [2]. Benito was shortly dismissed because of his support for World War I. In 1919 he created the Fascist Party and became prime minister in 1922 then eventually making himself dictator holding all the power in Italy [2]. Mussolini's "military expenditures in Libya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Albania made Italy predominant in the Mediterranean region, though they exhausted his armed forces by the late 1930s" [3]. He then teamed up with Adolf Hitler relying on the German leader to boost up his leadership during World War II [3]. Mussolini's rule fell shortly after when he was killed during the German surrender in 1945 [3].
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Forlì, Italy. Benito "was an ardent socialist as a youth, following in his father's political footsteps" [2]. Benito was shortly dismissed because of his support for World War I. In 1919 he created the Fascist Party and became prime minister in 1922 then eventually making himself dictator holding all the power in Italy [2]. Mussolini's "military expenditures in Libya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Albania made Italy predominant in the Mediterranean region, though they exhausted his armed forces by the late 1930s" [3]. He then teamed up with Adolf Hitler relying on the German leader to boost up his leadership during World War II [3]. Mussolini's rule fell shortly after when he was killed during the German surrender in 1945 [3].
Japan, Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989):
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Emperor Hirohito was the eldest son of the "Crown Prince Yoshihito, and was born on April 29, 1901" in the Aoyama Palace in Tokyo [2]. Traditionally imperial family members were not raised by their parents. Hirohito was raised by a retired vice-admiral and then a imperial attendant [2]. From the age 7-19 he went to a school what was set up for 'children of nobility" [2]. Hirohito "received rigorous instruction in military and religious matters, along with other subjects such as math and physics" [2]. In 1921 Hirohito traveled to Western Europe with a group for a sixth-month tour. When Hirohito returned home from Western Europe to his father being ill and assumed the position of emperor. In "September 1923, an earthquake struck the Tokyo area, killing about 100,000 people and destroying 63 percent of the city’s houses. Rampaging Japanese mobs subsequently murdered several thousand ethnic Koreans and leftists, who were accused of setting fires and looting in the quake’s aftermath. That December, Hirohito survived an assassination attempt, and the following month he married Princess Nagako, with whom he would have seven children. At around the same time, he ended the practice of imperial concubinage. Hirohito officially became emperor when his father died in December 1926. He chose Showa, which roughly translates to “enlightened harmony,” as his reign name" [2].
Emperor Hirohito was the eldest son of the "Crown Prince Yoshihito, and was born on April 29, 1901" in the Aoyama Palace in Tokyo [2]. Traditionally imperial family members were not raised by their parents. Hirohito was raised by a retired vice-admiral and then a imperial attendant [2]. From the age 7-19 he went to a school what was set up for 'children of nobility" [2]. Hirohito "received rigorous instruction in military and religious matters, along with other subjects such as math and physics" [2]. In 1921 Hirohito traveled to Western Europe with a group for a sixth-month tour. When Hirohito returned home from Western Europe to his father being ill and assumed the position of emperor. In "September 1923, an earthquake struck the Tokyo area, killing about 100,000 people and destroying 63 percent of the city’s houses. Rampaging Japanese mobs subsequently murdered several thousand ethnic Koreans and leftists, who were accused of setting fires and looting in the quake’s aftermath. That December, Hirohito survived an assassination attempt, and the following month he married Princess Nagako, with whom he would have seven children. At around the same time, he ended the practice of imperial concubinage. Hirohito officially became emperor when his father died in December 1926. He chose Showa, which roughly translates to “enlightened harmony,” as his reign name" [2].
Japan, Hideki Tojo (1884-1948):
Photo: [1]
Hideki Tojo was the military dictator for Imperial Japan. Tojo had the nickname of "Razor Tojo" because of his bureaucratic efficiency and his strict, uncompromising attention to detail. Tojo "built up a personal power base and used his position as head of the military police of Japan’s garrison force in Manchuria to rein in their influence before he became the Kwantung Army’s chief of staff in 1937. He played a key role in opening hostilities against China in July. Tôjô had his only combat experience later that year, leading two brigades on operations in Inner Mongolia" [2]. Tojo saw that " the military occupation of Chinese territory as necessary to force the Nationalist Chinese government to collaborate with Japan, he continued to advocate expansion of the conflict in China when he returned to Tokyo in 1938 as army vice minister, rising to army minister in July 1940. He pushed for alliance with Germany (where he had served in 1920-1922) and Italy, and he supported the formation of a broad political front of national unity. He then became the prime minister in October 1941" [2]. Tojo supported last minute decisions, and finally gave approval on attacking "United States, Great Britain, and the Dutch East Indies in December 1941" [2]. Tojo believed that there were times where statesmans should "have faith in victory" [2].
Hideki Tojo was the military dictator for Imperial Japan. Tojo had the nickname of "Razor Tojo" because of his bureaucratic efficiency and his strict, uncompromising attention to detail. Tojo "built up a personal power base and used his position as head of the military police of Japan’s garrison force in Manchuria to rein in their influence before he became the Kwantung Army’s chief of staff in 1937. He played a key role in opening hostilities against China in July. Tôjô had his only combat experience later that year, leading two brigades on operations in Inner Mongolia" [2]. Tojo saw that " the military occupation of Chinese territory as necessary to force the Nationalist Chinese government to collaborate with Japan, he continued to advocate expansion of the conflict in China when he returned to Tokyo in 1938 as army vice minister, rising to army minister in July 1940. He pushed for alliance with Germany (where he had served in 1920-1922) and Italy, and he supported the formation of a broad political front of national unity. He then became the prime minister in October 1941" [2]. Tojo supported last minute decisions, and finally gave approval on attacking "United States, Great Britain, and the Dutch East Indies in December 1941" [2]. Tojo believed that there were times where statesmans should "have faith in victory" [2].