In the spring of 1940, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass, a strategic mountain pass in the Alps situated between Austria and Italy. This meeting was crucial as it formalized their burgeoning alliance, which aimed to unite their military efforts against France and the United Kingdom. Such an alliance was deemed necessary as both nations faced increasing pressures from allied powers, and they sought to coordinate their military strategies. They discussed not only their immediate tactics but also their long-term goals for territorial expansion and dominance in Europe.

During the talks, the leaders exchanged viewpoints on the military situation in Europe, particularly focusing on the Allied forces. Hitler emphasized the need for Italy to join Germany in preventing the Allies from gaining a foothold in Western Europe. Mussolini, seeking to assert Italy's influence and position, agreed but made it clear that Italy preferred to keep its own imperial ambitions intact. This delicate balancing act characterized the negotiations, revealing the complexities of their alliance despite their mutual ideological alignment.

The Brenner meeting underscored the growing collaboration between their regimes, which would soon find expression in military campaigns. Both leaders would later support each other during various conflicts, including the invasion of France and campaigns in North Africa. By committing to this alliance, they effectively divided their strategic interests and aligned against a common enemy, further polarizing the European landscape in the lead-up to broader conflict.