ND4

I always thought of Mussolini as Hitler's lapdog who did whatever he said and when he tried to go out on his own, he got reprimended. But, what did the fuher himself think of Mussolini and Hirohito or Tojo?(When Italy invaded Greece and thier other blunders in WW2) I am only a freshman in high school and I remember Benito saying something like Hitler was a brash upstart or something like that. Well, I guess what I'm basically asking is what Japan thought of Nazi Germany and Italy, and vice versa.

-ND4,Nicker,UP1

NewModelSoldier

Mussolini served as a big inspiration for Hitler early on, once he was in the corridors of power, he realized that Mussolini was a wally. Not too sure about Hitler and Hirohito

srb7677

Hitler looked up to and admired Mussolini until about 1940 when the extent of Italian military incompetence became apparent. Thereafter, Hitler saw Mussolini as subordinate but useful and seemed to have a degree of trust in him which he had for few others.

Mussolini increasingly fell under Hitler`s spell as time went by, and grew ever more in awe of him. He was also very jealous of Hitler`s successes, which more than anything else motivated his disastrous decision to attack Greece.

As a racist Hitler secretly despised the Japanese leaders, but as a pragmatist saw the usefulness of Japan as an ally. The Japanese had a deep seated inferiority complex towards westerners in general that was over-compensated for by outward overbearing national pride and arrogance. Japan`s leaders mostly despised the Europeans, partly for racist reasons, but pragmatically saw Hitler as a very useful ally that could be taken advantage of. So in many ways the attitudes of Tojo and Hitler towards one another were a mirror image of each other. Their alliance was a marriage of convenience, not love.

I actually doubt whether Tojo and Mussolini thought very much about each other at all, beyond seeing each other as useful for tying down enemy forces.

Qymaen

I believe Mussolini and Hitler could be described as long-distance friends. I do know that the Germans viewed their Japanese allies with indifference, unsure about specifics, though.

leakbrewergator

Do you mean Hirohito?

Inflames

Hitler had so much respect for the Italian Fascist movement and her early success under Mussolini. He modled some things after the Italian example and he wanted to be good friends with Mussolini, the wannabe strongman, pride returning bully. Italy's navy was impressive and he looked like a prized ally but the Italians needed MASSIVE german support to maintain anything really. Italy was indeed the Axis' soft underbelly.

I'm sure the Japanese and German alliance was more one of mutual loathing of Russia and the joining of these nations would put added pressure on the Red Menace. I'm sure the Japanese considered themselves better than the Nazis ethically and militarily, and the Nazis would share this opinion entirely.

Qymaen

That's what the allies called Italy. "The Soft Underbelly of the Axis"

srb7677

Hirohito was mostly a figurehead who refrained from taking decisions. The man actually in power for most of the Pacific War was the Japanese Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo.

Mr. Rhombus

The Germans seem to have hated Mussolini as far as I know, though I'm not sure why.

YoungDonDraper

I've read that portrayal of Japanese power politics, but I've also read that after the war the Japanese elite conspired to protect their "divine" emperor by claiming he did not actually excercise his power, letting Tojo and others do it for him. I haven't made up my mind, both scenarios are plausible.