The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy

by Adam Tooze

The Nazi–Soviet pact, whilst it shifted the balance of power in Europe in Germany’s favour, negated any chance of a deal with Japan. Immediately following the announcement, the pro-German cabinet in Tokyo resigned. Power passed to the Japanese army, which was preoccupied with keeping the Soviets out of Manchuria. At the same time Mussolini made clear his inability to join Germany in a premature war against the Western powers.134 The British for their part could heave a huge sigh of relief, safe in the knowledge that for the foreseeable future they would not have to deal with the triple threat of the German, Italian and Japanese navies. Nor had the Soviets concluded the deal out of any particular friendship towards the Third Reich. Stalin was buying time, assuming that Germany would soon embroil itself in a prolonged and bloody war