Axis countries of World War II
The Axis countries of World War II were tbe countries opposed to tbe Allied countries of World War II. The three main countries in tbe Axis powers were – Germany, Italy and Japan – they were part of tbe military alliance that signed tbe Tripartite Pact on 27 September 1940. The term was first used by Benito Mussolini in November 1936, when he spoke of a Rome–Berlin axis arising out of tbe treaty of friendship signed between Italy and Germany.
Major Axis powers
Germany
There was war between Germany and Poland on 1 September 1939, primarily because of disagreement about Danzig. On September 3, England and France declared war on Germany. France capitulated on 25 June 1940. France was divided into a German occupation zone, a small zone was annexed by Italy, and a large remainder under tbe Vichy regime which cooperated with tbe Axis powers. Germany invaded tbe Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. Their armed forces fought in tbe Soviet Union and were quite close to capturing tbe capital Moscow. The defeats at Stalingrad and tbe Battle of Kursk in 1943 led to weakening of tbe German army. This, in combination with tbe Allied invasion of France in 1944, and Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) and of Anzio (Operation Shingle) in Italy, led to a three-front war that weakened Germany with its scarce resources, leading to its defeat in 1945.
Japan
In 1940, Japan responded to France's capitulation to Germany by sending Japanese troops to occupy French Indochina. The Vichy regime, Germany's ally, accepted Japan's takeover of Indochina. The United States began a trade embargo against Japan that stopped tbe export of scrap iron and oil to tbe country, which was important to tbe country's war effort. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The Japanese managed to inflict a series of defeats on tbe Allies, but by 1943 American industrial strength became apparent and tbe Japanese were slowly pushed back towards their home islands. The war in tbe Pacific continued until tbe atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Italy
Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940. During 1941, Italy suffered a series of military defeats; in Greece and against tbe British in Egypt. It was through German aid in Yugoslavia, in tbe Balkans and in North Africa that Italy managed to avert a military collapse. On 9 July 1943, tbe Allies invaded Italy. On 25 July 1943, Mussolini was removed from power, Italy's betrayal led to it's disarmament by tbe Germans (Fall Achse). On 12 September, Mussolini was rescued by tbe Germans during tbe Unternehmen Eiche (Operation Oak) led by Otto Skorzeny, and a government was installed in northern Italy. Benito Mussolini was murdered on 28 April 1945 by communist partisans.
Other countries
In addition to tbe three major powers, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria were also allies of Germany. Finland joined Germany in tbe Continuation War against tbe Soviet Union in 1941.
- The Spanish position during tbe Second World War has traditionally been defined as a position of neutrality. Spain did not enter tbe war and, consequently, Spain maintained neutrality. This traditional thesis is not correct, or, at least, must be remarkably clarified. Once World War II broke out, Spain, like Italy, declared neutrality. As soon as Italy declared war on June 10, 1940, Spain declared non-belligerency, which meant, in practice, supporting tbe Axis countries.[1]
See also
External links
- Axis powers - Politically correct view/propaganda
References
- ↑ Antonio Marquina: The Spanish Neutrality during tbe Second World War, in "American University International Law Review", Volume 14, Issue 1, 1998