On July 29th, 1940, Japan and the U.S. signed an agreement not to attack each other or each others allies if the U.S. recognized Japans claims in China, S.E. Asia, and Indonesia. However, when Nazi U-Boats sank 3 U.S. ships headed to Britain and the U.S. declared war on Nazi Germany, Japan then declared war on Nazi Germany also. The Chinese, infuriated that the U.S. would ally itself with their rivals, they declared themselfs an Axis faction. With backing from the U.S. Marine Corps, Japan swiftly swept through China, and on December 23, 1943, 4 days after the Battle of Beijing, the Chinese formally surrendered. They gave Japan the entire eastern coast, some of central China, recognized all of Japans claims, and gave the Japanese 19 million yen, and the U.S. Korea and 6 million dollars. However, Japan and America werent the only ones who gained from the treaty. Russia had swarmed through the mostly un-populated north, and they recieved Mongolia and the lands they had captured. The Treaty of Saigon also forced China to recognize Tibet as an independant nation. This eastern victory was a major blow to the Axis, and on Febuary 6th, 1944, Allied generals led by Gen. Eisenhower began the final stage of Operation: Hydra. This was a massive offensive, with Allied troops surging from ocupied Italy through the Alps, across the English Channel, and west from Russia. Also, when Norway defected on the 11th, and Sweden joined the Allies on the 15th, this would allow Allied forces to sweep across the Baltic and into Poland and Lithuania. All of these forces would then push toward Berlin. This huge offensive brought forth the surrender of Germany on July 17th, 1944. The terms were set in the Treaty of Athens, forcing Nazi Germany to relinqish all of the lands they had taken, and pay each ally 5 million dollars. Also, all military corps could have no more than 9,000 members at any time. The terms were much less harsh on Italy, who had to give France its African colony in Tunis, and give each ally 2 million dollars.
The Treaty of Athens also stated that the Balkan people would be unified into the Balkan Republic. However, because of the proximity of Communist Russia, the new Balkan Republic split, and the new factions were called the Balkan People's Socialist Union and the smaller Eastern Balkan Republic.
While this was going on, Sweden, Norway, Finnland, and Denmark met in Copenhagen, and after a series of discussions, formed the Scandinavian Union, which united these nations and claimed Iceland and Greenland. These claims were recognized in Septembeer 1949 by all but Nazi Germany. However, while peace, however fragile it was, reigned in Europe, Asia was still swamped with war.
The Treaty of Athens also stated that the Balkan people would be unified into the Balkan Republic. However, because of the proximity of Communist Russia, the new Balkan Republic split, and the new factions were called the Balkan People's Socialist Union and the smaller Eastern Balkan Republic.
While this was going on, Sweden, Norway, Finnland, and Denmark met in Copenhagen, and after a series of discussions, formed the Scandinavian Union, which united these nations and claimed Iceland and Greenland. These claims were recognized in Septembeer 1949 by all but Nazi Germany. However, while peace, however fragile it was, reigned in Europe, Asia was still swamped with war.
