Adolf Hitler's Germany invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. The European Fascist powers, Germany and Italy, May 22 sign the Axis alliance, also known as the Pact of Steel, formalizing mutual military interests. Japan is reluctant to accept Hitler's 1939 invitation to formally join the German-Italian Axis agreement, but reverses its view with the fall of French and Dutch colonial strength. Japan signs the tripartite Axis military alliance in September 1940.

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