Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936 was signed between Germany and Japan to ratify the agreement between these two states to fight against the spread of the Communist International in the world. The pact was aimed at the elimination of the global influence of the Soviet Union.
Explanation:
In the 1930-s, the relations between some leading states of the world were marked by the growing concerns about the distribution of global influence. The emerging ideologies of Nazism, Fascism, and Communism were pursuing to obtain their dominating positions. To prevent the expansion of communist ideology to other countries than the Soviet Union, the Japanese and German authorities signed an agreement on November 25, 1936, in Berlin. By signing the Anti-Comintern Pact, Japan and Nazi Germany agreed to exchange any information related to the activities of the Communist International. Such endeavors were designed to fight the Communist deterioration.
Seeing the Soviet Union as the main actor of Communism, Adolf Hitler commenced the pact to ensure that all attempts of the USSR to impose international influence are mutually reported by Germany and Japan. Among the issues specifying the agreement were the requirements to implement strict measures against any manifestations of Communism observed in any form. Also, other countries were encouraged to join the fight against the Communist International. More importantly, the states agreed on sharing the information about and fighting against any signs of Comintern both inside their countries and outside of them. The agenda behind such actions was the plans for obtaining more influence in Europe and the East through the oppression of the main competitor, the Soviet Union.
While Hitler initiated the pact to find a partner to share the world’s hostility, Japan also had its reasons to join the activity against the Soviet Union as the main distributor of Communism. By the time of the signing of the document, the Empire of Japan took action to eliminate Communism as a domestic threat. By joining with influential Germany, Japan might obtain support in pursuing its further geopolitical goals of expansion in the Far East.
The reason why the Anti-Comintern Pact was important is that is shaped the distribution of forces on a global scale between the influential countries. Although the pact was initially signed by Germany and Japan, later, other countries joined the anti-Comintern movement. The list of the states who signed the Anti-Comintern Pact during the following years included Italy, Spain, Hungary, Finland, Romania, Danmark, and others. These countries were governed by the politicians who shared the ideals of Nazism and Fascism represented by Germany and Italy and did not support the ideology of Communism.
The significance of the Anti-Comintern Pact was determined by its influence on the distribution of forces in the world before World War II. By means of propaganda, the leaders of Germany and Italy presented the agreement as an action toward preserving the Western ideals and values and fighting against the threats of communism imposed by Comintern in the face of the USSR. The leading states and their supporters joined by the pact played an important role in the preparation of the war. The implications of the document led to a series of consecutive actions on behalf of the USA and the Soviet Union that predetermined the outcomes of World War II.