News of Germany's formal declaration of war spread, and the entire world was shaken.
Every country reacted differently. The French naturally turned ashen at the news; they were now like convicts being forcibly marched to the execution ground. The British felt equally oppressed, but they could barely still summon their spirits.
Where some worried, others rejoiced. The Soviets secretly delighted in Germany's declaration of war against Britain and France, while Japan was beside itself with joy.
The war in the Far East had already fallen into a stalemate. Japan urgently needed its Axis allies in Europe to share its pressure. Now that Germany had launched a war in Europe, the pressure Japan faced from the Soviet Union, Britain, and France had been drastically reduced.
February 25, 1939.
Japan, Tokyo.
As Germany declared war on Britain and France in Europe, a new wave of political turmoil erupted in Japan. The Japanese military developed internal divisions over this major shift in the international situation.
At this time, the Japanese military's Army Minister was Itagaki Seishiro. However, within the military, the army and navy stood side by side, with no unified core.
Army Minister Itagaki Seishiro said, "Gentlemen, just this morning, Germany formally declared war on Britain and France. War in Europe can no longer be avoided."
"With this move in Europe, the international situation has undergone violent changes. The two great mountains that once blocked the Empire's path of expansion—Britain and France, and the Soviet Union—are now completely unable to spare attention for the Far East."
"And the reason our war with the Far East Empire has fallen into its present situation is largely because the Soviet Union and the British-French bloc have exerted enormous pressure on the Empire from north and south."
"Now that war has broken out in Europe, their