believed that countrys that fell victim to western ideology were weak i.e., China and Korea. (Introduction page 1, paragraph 6) The Germans/Hitler believed that strength is what made a country strong or weak. Unlike Japan the Germans based their standards on a nations economy and military strength. (Hillgruber introduction, page 1 paragraph 2). This belief in superiority pushed these nations to expand believing that it was their inalienable right to do so.The Japanese, like Germany was struggling during this time but for different reasons, Japan was going through a change from their traditional government to a centralized government, the Meiji restoration. (Written lecture part A. Page 2, paragraph 6). Germany was also struggling to find a stable government, after World War 1 and the Treaty of Shame acceptance; many Germans were experiencing harder times then prior to the World War 1. Unemployment rates were rising and the average citizen was now experiencing hunger. This was causing an inner turmoil within the Nation. Many Germans believed that democracy had to go, while others believed that communism was not going to improve the nations status. Like in Japan prior to the Meiji restoration, small factions sprouted up and battled for power. The Japanese shift of power was generated, like Germanys, by a desire to become a world-economic-leader. Japan was also battling to expand due to limited resources, population and land problems, economic despair, and a mixture of nationalism, and ethnocentrism. However, the Japanese unlike the Germans had a group of men making the decisions for the masses. The Japanese military worked as one power, after politically castrating the government, this set the stage for aggressive Japanese expansion. Unlike Germany, Japan had a strong economy but mirrored the German belief that their country was superior to other nations.The German army mapped out their plan of expansion and targeted cou...
