On June 22, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and an Imperial Council was immediately held to discuss how Japan, having signed the Tripartite Pact, should react to this development.
6月22日に独ソ戦が勃発、ドイツ・イタリアと三国同盟を結んでいた日本は、独ソ戦争にどう対応するか、御前会議にかける新たな国策が直ちに求められた。