So I've been trying to study up on World War II, and reading a lot of books and forums about it. In one forum I saw, someone said that the European Theaters and Pacific War were pretty much distinct conflicts outside of the United States participating in both.
My questions are the following:
Is what this person said true? I know Japan joined the Axis after signing a treaty with Germany, but aside from that was there any communication between the leaders (i.e. Hitler and Hirohito)?
Were there any WW2 battles that saw them work together?
On somewhat of a side note, did the UK ever send troops to fight the Japanese? I know USSR did at the end with the Manchuria Campaign, but wondering if the UK helped at all.
Thank you all for your help!
Sorta but no I would say the post isnt giving the best overview, not that it was close cooperation though.
Yes the Japanese and Germans communicated, there were Attaches Ambassadors and special missions of observers exchanged by each. While U-Boats, I-Boats, and blockade runners made several long trips bringing technical plans, equipment prototypes, rare earth metals, and other precious resources back and forth. It was not an easy journey but it was made, while cables and third parties allowed for relatively regular and effective communication between Berlin and Tokyo. While even before the war Germany and Japan began entering each other's orbit, though not above objections from some in both nations. As an example in the mid 30's a delegation was allowed to observe the IJn aircraft carrier Akagi in support of Germany's attempts to build her own carrier in the Graf Zeppelin.
Yes but rare and essentially confined to the Indian Ocean and attempts to attack British and Empire trade routes. Once the Japanese gained Burma, Malaya, and the Dutch East Indies they had bases which provided open access to the vital sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. The Kriegsmarine sought to make use of that, sending several U-Boats to operate out of Japanese bases, coming to be known as the Monsoon Group, while Japanese and German raiders exchanged sighting reports and intel on British shipping. But it was not that close either, the Germans were under orders to try to keep the Japanese from learning or seeing too much of their equipment up close including their early homing torpedoes. While after Germany's surrender many of the subs were actually seized by the IJN and put into service out of Singapore for the last months of the war.
That this is even a question I am sorta compelled to ask where you were taught WW2 history because they did a piss poor job. But yes the British, and Empire troops, were involved from the first day to the last in the Pacific. While bombs were falling on Pearl Harbor the Japanese were landing troops in Malaya with the goal of seizing the British base at Singapore, called by some the Gibraltar of the Pacific and the anchor of British defensive strategy in Asia. Its rapid fall in early 1942 and the surrender of its British, Malay, Indian, and ANZAC garrison was one of the worst defeats of the war for Britain while the sinking of the British warships Prince of Wales and Repulse in December 1941 further confirmed the supremacy of air power over battleships. From there the British fought a slow retreat through the jungles of Burma to the very borders of India, with a large multi national force including units form virtually every nation in the Commonwealth and most Allied Powers. While the Australians and Kiwis fought with the Americans and Royal Navy in the South Pacific. It was then in the final years of the war a slow reverse of pushing Japan out of Burma and much of SE Asia, with plans made to retake Singapore, while a Royal Navy free of European threats returned first to the Indian Ocean and then the Pacific where a contingent of carriers and battleships joined the great US armada off Okinawa in 1945.