Fascism in Italy:
Supporters were called Blackshirts, as their volunteer army was known to wear black shirts & pants, robes, and other black articles of clothing.
All men over 20 were conscripted, though this can fall under both sections. However, Italy focused mainly on man power, while Japan used both women and men, as well as children in preparation for the invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall, which never occurred, as the US resorted to the usage of the Atomic Bomb).
Ethiopia was invaded, as Italy wanted to start off a campaign not only to boost morales and obtain military experience, but also as a suggestion to history, in which Ethiopia was historically able to defeat European aggressors due to their ability to stockpile "state-of-the-art" weapons during the colonial days. They were successful.
Mussolini seized power, and was the main leader that supported Hitler. Hitler reinstated Mussolini and had to bail him out of many defeats, and saw Mussolini as a rising rival, who wanted to reinstate the Roman Empire, contrary to the views of Hitler.
Militarism in Japan:
All men over 20 were conscripted, and were told that to die for the Emperor was to gain, and to protect the empire even to their death. They followed the bushido code, which did not allow for their soldiers to surrender, as that was seen not only as a failure, but almost as treason. Instead, they were to either die fighting, or were supposed to take their own life. Military leaders were not above the law, though there are times where they asked officers to assist with the bushido.
China was invaded. While Italy looked to expand mainly in Africa, and Germany looking to expand in Europe as well as Russia, Japan looked to expand in the Eastern Hemisphere, as well as westward into Eastern Russia and China in hopes of obtaining living spaces.
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