Figure 1.--.

One interesting topic is the efforts made by the German and Japanese to transport material. This varied over time. Before the War, the two countries were free to trade without impediment. The Germans did send military equiopment. The Japanese had little to offer the Germans and as a result commonly paid for the equioment or tecghnology purchased. This changed after Hitler launched World War II (September 1939). Britain and France instituted a naval blockade. This essentially bottled up German frighters in the Baltic. The fall of France and the Italian entry into the War provided both Atlantic and Mediterranean ports Germans could use. This and the weakness of the Royal Navy meant that German blockade runners had some chance of success. This also eased the problem for Japanese merchant vessels. Japan was still neutral and the British wanted to avoid incidents that might give the Japanese an excuse for war. Some excganges were possible over the Soviet Trahns-Siberian Railway. And even after Barbaross (June 1941), German long-range aircraft could reach Japan from forward bases. This of course changed with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and British possessions. Surface blockade runners contuinued to run the blockade, but were gradually shut down. This left only the possibility of submarine runs. Bulky raw material was no longer feasible, but German high tech weapons could be transported. The Japanese sent gold in their submarines to help pay the Germans for the ctechnology aquired. As Allied anti-submarine warfare capabikities increased, even submarine trips became dangerous.

Maritime Transport

Before the War, the two countries were free to trade without impediment. The Germans did send military equiopment. The Japanese had little to offer the Germans and as a result commonly paid for the equioment or tecghnology purchased. This changed after Hitler launched World War II (September 1939). Britain and France instituted a naval blockade. This essentially bottled up German frighters in the Baltic. The fall of France and the Italian entry into the War provided both Atlantic and Mediterranean ports Germans could use. This and the weakness of the Royal Navy meant that German blockade runners had some chance of success. This also eased the problem for Japanese merchant vessels. Japan was still neutral and the British wanted to avoid incidents that might give the Japanese an excuse for war. After Pearl Harbor and the onset of the Pacific War, surface blockade runners contuinued to run the blockade, but were gradually shut down.

Rail

Some excganges were possible over the Soviet Trans-Siberian Railway. The Germans did not, however, send any high-tech ,ilitary equipment because of the danger of Soviet seizure. Even after Barbarossa, Japanese diplomats used this route.

Air

And even after Barbaross (June 1941), German long-range aircraft could reach Japan from forward bases. This of course changed with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and British possessions.

Submarines

After the surface blockade runners were closed down, the possibility of exchanges were submarine runs. Bulky raw material was no longer feasible in meaningful quantoties, but German high tech weapons could be transported. Actually the security of submarine transfer made the Germans more willing to take the risk with their most vsluable secret weapons. The Japanese sent gold in their submarines to help pay the Germans for the technology aquired. As Allied anti-submarine warfare capabilities increased, even submarine trips became increasingly dangerous. Allied Ultra and Maghic decripts enabled the Allies to learn of these efforts and helped intercept them. German, Japanese, and perhaps Italian submarines were involved in these exchanges.

Created: 3:52 AM 4/7/2011
Last updated: 3:52 AM 4/7/2011