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Sub units: Stresa front and the Rome-Berlin Axis | The Anti-Comintern Pact and the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis and conclusion

  • Hitler did not want the other major powers in Europe to form an alliance against him. He wanted to prevent his enemies from forming a powerful united front against Germany.
  • Some alliances had already been formed, the most dangerous (for Germany) being the one between Britain, France and Italy.
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  • Hitler also realised that his best defence against possible enemies was to form strong alliances of his own.

The Stresa Front

  • This was a treaty between Britain, France and Italy.
  • It was not a strong alliance, as there was mutual distrust between the countries.
  • France and Italy were at each other's throats regularly, whereas the naval pact that Britain had signed with Germany angered the French.
  • The last straw for this alliance was the Italian invasion of Abyssinia and the inability of the League of Nations (led by Britain and France) to act effectively.
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The Rome-Berlin Axis

  • This informal agreement was signed between Germany and Italy on 21 October 1936.
  • The two countries agreed to work more closely together. Although this was not in any way an offensive treaty, it was the start of a relationship between two of Europe's most important and dangerous dictatorships.
  • Reasons why Germany and Italy were drawn closer together:
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Sub units: Stresa front and the Rome-Berlin Axis | The Anti-Comintern Pact and the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis and conclusion
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