Episode 18 – Enemies of the Red Flag: The Anti-Comintern Pact and the Birth of the Axis

In 1936, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan — two powers separated by oceans but united by ideology — signed a pact that would help shape the course of history. The Anti-Comintern Pact was framed as a stand against the spread of communism, but in reality, it laid the foundation for a military and political alliance that would plunge the world into war.

In this episode, we uncover the story behind the pact — from secret negotiations and political maneuvering to the propaganda that sold it to the public. We examine how Italy’s entry solidified the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis and why the agreement was as much about intimidation and image as it was about strategy.

Inside this 60-minute episode:

• The global political climate in 1936

• How Germany and Japan aligned against the Soviet Union

• The role of Joachim von Ribbentrop and Japanese diplomats

• Mussolini’s decision to join the pact

• How the Anti-Comintern Pact shaped early Axis cooperation

🎙️ Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.

This episode covers the Anti-Comintern Pact, the birth of the Axis alliance, Germany-Japan relations, Mussolini’s foreign policy, and the global power shifts that preceded WW2.

World War 2 in Focus: Echoes Through AI

Created by Hector Sanchez, U.S. Navy veteran.

Powered by AI. Sharpened by history.