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About Michael FitzGerald
Expertise
I am an expert in German history between 1918 and 1945, particularly with regard to the Nazi era. I am also very knowledgeable about most areas of philosophy (I have an honours degree in the subject) and am able to answer questions on that subject too. In addition, I am very knowledgeable about poetry. One of my hobbies is also politics, mainly British and European though I follow the US political scene as well. Another one is the history of crime and punishment and British social history (the two often overlap!) I am willing to answer questions on all the above issues.
Experience
Author of two published works, 'Storm Troopers of Satan,' an account of the lunatic fringes of Nazi ideology, and 'Adolf Hitler: A Portrait,' a biography of the German dictator. 'Adolf Hitler' was published in July 2006 by the top history publisher Spellmount and was named historical biography of the month by the Good Book Guide. I correspond with Ian Kershaw, Peter Stachura, Jeremy Noakes, Roger Moorhouse and Stan Lauryssens. I have undertaken research for radio, television, newspapers and magazines
Organizations
Society of Authors
Education/Credentials
I have an Honours degree in philosophy.
Awards and Honors
LT prize for poetry
Historical Biography of the month, Good Book Guide
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You are here: Experts > Homework Help > 20th Century History > 20th Century History > Germany and Japan
Expert: Michael FitzGerald
Date: 11/26/2007
Subject: Germany and Japan
Question
Hello Michael.
What was Japan's reaction to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 ? Three years earlier Germany and Japan had signed the Anti-Comintern Pact to oppose Communism and now here was Germany signing a treaty with the Soviets.
Mark
Answer
Hello Mark
The simple answer is that the Japanese were very angry with Hitler for signing the treaty. Although to a considerable extent both Germany and Japan had always put their own interests before that of their supposed allies, on the whole the Japanese benefited far more from the 'alliance' than the Germans did.
In Hitler's eyes the pact was a tactical maneouvre to bring the West to its senses; in the eyes of the Japanese it was a gross betrayal. Until 1939 Germany and Japan had been holding secret talks about a joint invasion of the Soviet Union. Japan had designs on large areas of Siberia and the pact made any such plans impossible. The resentment that the German action caused in Japan was so deep that when Hitler did attack in 1941 the Japanese refused to attack the Russians themselves.
Although in the short term it was a tactical success for Hitler, in the longer term it was a strategical blunder, one of several which ultimately cost him the war.
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