The Conception Of German-Italian-Japanese-Soviet Four Power (1939-1941)

The conception of German-Italian-Japanese-Soviet Four Power is a marvelous idea that Germany and Japan had had as the Germany-Soviet non-aggression pact was signed. It means drawing Soviet Union into the Axis Power and creating an Four Power to fight against the West Camp led by British. This unconsummated conception never received the academic attention it deserves. This article focuses on its emergence, development and collapse, explores its failure and impact, and researches Germany-Japan-Soviet relations in 1939-1941 through this history.Besides the introduction and conclusion, the text can be divided into 4 chapters.The First chapter mainly describes the origins of the conception of German-Italian-Japanese-Soviet Four Power. Germany's target should have been to conclude German-Italian-Japanese Tripartite Pact after the Czechoslovakia crisis, but the prospect of the negotiation between Germany and Japan became darkened. German-Soviet relations gradually eased. Germany realized her negotiation with Japan wouldn't be successful on May, 1939, so her shifted the focus of her foreign policy to Soviet, and so did Soviet as her was trapped into Anglo-French-Soviet talks. Finally German-Soviet non-aggression pact which signed on August 23, 1939 had an deadly effect on the German-Japanese talks and Anglo-French-Soviet talks. The conception of the Four Power was also brought forth.The second chapter focuses on the "Four Power" propaganda carried out by Germany after the German-Soviet Pact was signed. This propaganda was intended to establish an "anti-British" camp, and its form is to reach reconciliation between the Axis Power and Soviet. Though this propaganda didn't get its expected effect, but it wouldn't diappear easily. On the other hand, Soviet-German cooperation became the only real link which could maintain the possibility of the Four Power.The third chapter discusses the new turning point with the fall of France. Tempted by the south policy, Japan soon conclude Tripartite Pact with German and Italy. In the pact the three countries reached consensus on the key issues of Soviet, and this let Tripartite Pact become a prelude of the Four Power. Meanwhile, the deterioration of Soviet-German relations brought the new hindrance for the four-power conception. For their own sake, every country still positively began to make plans of Four Power. In this situation, the consequence of Molotov's visit to Berlin was crucial.The fourth chapter depicts the collapse of four power conception. Molotov's visit to Berlin exposed the unbridgeable differences between Germany and Soviet. Although Soviet agreed to conclude a Four Power pact, her demand was far more than what Germany could accept. At last, Hitler gave up this conception and decided to carry out Barbarossa. Stalin and Matsuoka tried to save the four power conception and Soviet-German relations by the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty. Soviet-German war finally broke out, which formally pronounced the bankrupt of Four Power conception.The conclusion refers that in the fluence of Military and diplomatic strategy in each country, there seemed to be the possibility of joint among those coutry. However, when they took to the table, they found their confict of interests were much higher than their benefit-sharing. It seems that Molotov's visit to Germany had a shock on Soviet-German relation. What is in the behind is the endless desire and ambition of a totalitarian fascist state. Fortunately, when Soviet-German War broke out, those country invaded by Fascist finally came tighter. As the anti-fascist alliance was established, the world history opened a new chapter.