The crickets on the thread I started were starting to get to me, so I thought I'd post a placeholder.

Just finished reading the article by Umberto Eco on fascism that I posted about on CE. His point #9 struck me for its relevant to MitHC's subplot about conflict brewing between Germany and Japan:

9. For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, life is lived for struggle. Thus pacifism is trafficking with the enemy . It is bad because
life is permanent warfare . This, however, brings about an Armageddon complex. Since enemies have to be defeated, there must be a final battle, after which the movement will have control of the world. But such a "final solution" implies a further era of peace, a Golden Age, which contradicts the principle of permanent war. No fascist leader has ever succeeded in solving this predicament.

(underlining mine)

Puts a finer point on the pressure on Germany from its aging leadership and, apparently, too long a period of peace.

I'll get back to you after 9 and 10.