To be realistic, in 1938, Japan could only throw its weight around in Asia. Placed in Europe, Japan could barely count as a second-rate great power. In Europe, Germany was unquestionably in a league of its own, followed by the Soviet Union, Britain, and France, though the latter two were severely lopsided in their strengths.
The Soviet Navy was clearly inadequate, Britain's army was weak, and France's overall military capabilities were somewhat falling behind across the board.
In this regard, France chiefly suffered from its population disadvantage. If not for that constraint, France's war potential would certainly have been formidable.
As for France's lack of resources, it could only be said to be neck and neck with Germany. Germany did indeed hold an advantage over France in resources such as coal and iron ore, but France had many overseas colonies. West Africa alone, if France could develop it, would leave France with little cause to worry about resources.
France's main problem now was structural. Unless it resolved its deep-rooted issues, its future development would basically remain half-dead and half-alive.
Whether compared with the Soviet Union or Britain, Japan was still somewhat lacking in military strength. If overall national power was compared, Japan lagged even further behind.
Therefore, even if Japan were placed among Europe's second-rate great powers, it could only rank at the very bottom. In fact, Japan should have stood alongside Italy among the third-rate great powers.
October 1938.
Warsaw, Poland.
Poland was now far less imposing than it had been during this period in his previous life. Before World War II in his previous life, Poland not only styled itself Europe's Fifth Strong Nation, but its overall national strength could also rank among the world's top twenty.
The claim of being Europe's Fifth Strong Nation naturally contained