In September 1939, war broke out in Europe. Japan, in September 1940, signed a treaty of friendship with Germany and Italy, which called themselves the Axis Powers. While Germany wanted to be master of Europe, Japan wanted to be the master of Asia and the Pacific region. In 1941, more Indian, British and Australian troops arrived in Singapore to defend both Malaya and Singapore from a possible Japanese attack. On 2 December 1941, the battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse arrived in Singapore. However, the British could not send more naval and air reinforcements because of its involvement in the war in Europe and North Africa.