Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression The Nazi conspirators knew that the aggressive war they were
urging the Japanese to undertake both threatened the vital
interests of the United States and could lead the US to
involvement in the contemplated Far Eastern conflict. This
fact is clear from the report of the conference between
Hitler and the Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka in Berlin
on 4 April 1941 (1881-PS). The report states, in part:
"*** Matsuoka then also expressed the request that the
Fuehrer should instruct the proper authorities in
Germany to meet as broad-mindedly as possible the
wishes of the Japanese Military Commission. Japan was
in need of German help particularly concerning the U-
boat warfare, which could be given by making available
to them the latest experiences of the war as well as
the latest technical improvements and inventions. Japan
would do her utmost to avoid a war with the United
States. In case that the country should decide to
attack Singapore, the Japanese Navy, of course, had to
be prepared for a fight with the United States, because
in that case America probably would side with Great
Britain. He (Matsuoka) personally believed that the
United States would be restrained by diplomatic
exertions from entering
[Page 864]
the war at the side of Great Britain. The Army and Navy
had, however, to count on the worst situation, that is,
with war against America. They were of the opinion that
such a war would extend for five years or longer and
would take the form of guerrilla warfare in the Pacific
and would be fought out in the South Sea. For this
reason the German experiences in her guerrilla warfare
are of the greatest value to Japan. It was a question
how such a war would best be conducted -- and how all
the technical improvements of submarines, in all
details such as periscopes and such like, could best be
exploited by Japan.
"To sum up, Matsuoka requested that the Fuehrer should
see to it that the proper German authorities would
place at the disposal of the Japanese those
developments and inventions concerning Navy and Army,
which were needed by the Japanese.
"The Fuehrer promised this and pointed out that Germany
too considered a conflict with the United States
undesirable, but that it had already made allowances
for such a contingency."
*******
"Matsuoka once more repeated his request that the
Fuehrer might give the necessary instructions, in order
that the proper German authorities would place at the
disposal of the Japanese the latest improvement and
inventions, which are of interest to them, because the
Japanese Navy had to prepare immediately for a conflict
with the United States.
"As regards Japanese-American relationship, Matsuoka
explained further that he has always declared in his
country that sooner or later a war with the United
States would be unavoidable, if Japan continued to
drift along as at present. In his opinion this conflict
would happen rather sooner than later. His
argumentation went on, why should Japan, therefore, not
decisively strike at the right moment and take the risk
upon herself of a fight against America?" (1881-PS)
The passages just quoted show not only a realization of the
probable involvement of the United States in the Far Eastern
conflict that the Nazis were urging, but also a knowledge on
their part that the Japanese Army and Navy were actually
preparing war plans against the United States. Furthermore,
the Nazis knew at least a part of what those war plans were.
This fact is revealed in a secret telegram from the German
military attache in Tokyo, dated 24 May 1941 (1538-PS). The
attache reports
[Page 865]
the conferences he has had regarding Japan's entry in the
war in the event Germany should become involved in war with
the United States. In paragraph 1, this sentence appears:
"Preparations for attack on Singapore and Manila
stand." (1538-PS) .
A review of the Nazi position with regard to the United
States at this point, the Spring of 1941, shows that in view
of their press of commitments elsewhere and their aggressive
plans against the USSR, set for execution in June of 1941,
their temporary strategy was naturally a preference that the
United States not be involved in war at that time.
Nevertheless they had been considering their own preliminary
plans against the United States, as seen in the Atlantic
Islands document (376-PS) . They were repeatedly urging the
Japanese to aggression against the British Commonwealth,
just as they would urge them to attack the USSR soon after
the launching of the Nazi invasion. They were aware that the
course along which they were pushing the Japanese in the Far
East would probably lead to involvement of the United
States. Indeed, the Japanese Foreign Minister had told
Hitler this in so many words, and their own military men had
fully realized the implications of the move against
Singapore. They knew also that the Japanese Army and Navy
were preparing operational plans against the United States.
They knew at least part of those plans.
The Nazi conspirators not only knew all these things. They
accepted the risk of the aggressive course they were urging
on the Japanese and pushed their Eastern allies still
farther along that course. On 4 April 1941, Hitler- told the
Japanese Foreign Minister that in the event Japan were to
become involved in war with the United States, Germany would
immediately take the consequences and strike without delay.
The following is a passage from the notes of the Hitler-
Matsuoka conference in Berlin on 4 April 1941:
"In the further course of the discussion the Fuehrer
pointed out that Germany on her part would immediately
take the consequences, if Japan would get involved with
the United States. It did not matter with whom the
United States would first get involved, if with Germany
or with Japan. They would always try to eliminate one
country at a time, not to come to an understanding with
the other country subsequently, but to liquidate this
one just the same. Therefore Germany would strike, as
already mentioned, without delay in case of a conflict
between Japan and America, because the strength of the
tripartite powers lies in their
[Page 866]
joined action. Their weakness would be if they would
let themselves be beaten individually." (1881-PS)
Hitler then encouraged Matsuoka in his decision to strike
against the United States:
"The Fuehrer replied that he could well understand the
situation of Matsuoka, because he himself was in
similar situations (the clearing of the Rhineland,
declaration of sovereignty of armed Forces). He too was
of the opinion that he had to exploit favorable
conditions and accept the risk of an anyhow unavoidable
fight at a time when he himself was still young and
full of vigor. How right he was in his attitude was
proven by events. Europe now was free. He would not
hesitate a moment to instantly reply to any widening of
the war, be it by Russia, be it by America. Providence
favored those who will not let dangers come to them,
but who will bravely face them." (1881-PS)
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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Volume
I Chapter IX
Collaboration with Italy & Japan
Aggressive War Against the United States
November 1936 to December
1941
(Part 10 of 12)