Axis powers

Axis countries and Axis Powers was a military coalition of countries that fought together against the Allies during World War II. Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of the Fascist Italy, announced that an October 1936 agreement had created an Italo-German "axis" around which future European events would revolve. Nazi Germany made a separate agreement with the Empire of Japan at the same time. The three major powers were joined by several minor countries. The war ended in 1945 with the Axis powers losing and their alliances broken.

Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers

The most important Axis countries organized the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers which they formalized with the Pact of Steel and Tripartite Pact. They included:

•  Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler
•  Empire of Japan, under Hirohito
• Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini

The three flags of Axis Powers: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy until 1943, and Empire of Japan.

• 
  Nazi Germany
• 
  Fascist Italy (before 1943)
• 
  Empire of Japan

All three countries had authoritarian governments, which were (and still are) often referred to as fascist.

Other countries

Subsequent signatories of the Tripartite Pact

In addition to the main three countries, the less important Axis countries were:

•  Kingodm of Hungary, under Miklós Horthy
•  Kingdom of Bulgaria, under Tsar Boris III (until Boris III's death in 1943 and declaring war on Germany in 1944)
•  Kingdom of Romania, under Ion Antonescu (until Ion Antonescu got overthrown and declaring war on Germany in 1944)
•  Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Under Prince Paul of Yugoslavia (until Paul got overthrown and the axis invaded)

• 
  Hungary
• 
  Romania
• 
  Bulgaria
• 
  Yugoslavia

Other countries that helped the Axis without being a part of them were:

Co-belligerent states

•  Finland
•  Thailand
•  Iraq (1941)

Client states

•  Slovakia
•  Vietnam (Empire of Vietnam)
•  Philippines (Second Republic)
• Independent State of Croatia
•  Italian Social Republic (1943–1945)
•  Reorganized National Government of China
• Manchukuo (Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia)
•  Albania (1943-1944)
• Government of National Salvation
•  Hellenic State
• Kingdom of Kampuchea
•  Mengjiang
• Kingdom of Luang Prabang

Colonies and dependencies

Italy

• Montenegro
•  Albania (1939-1943)
•  Italian East Africa
•  Libya

Japan

• Taiwan
• Korea
• South Seas Mandate
• Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies

Controversial cases

• Denmark, signed treaty of mutual non-aggression; accepted German troops.
• Spain, was neutral, but gave non-military assistance.
• Vichy France, agreed not to resist after Northern France was conquered. Did not resist Japanese occupation of French Indochina.
• Soviet Union, helped Germany invade poland.

• 
  Manchukuo
• 
  Slovakia
• 
  Vichy France
• 
  Croatia
• 
  Italian Social Republic

Several new or rebel governments that were created by the Axis during the war are:

• Burma (Ba Maw regime)
• India (Provisional Government of Free India)

Other websites

• WW2DB: Tripartite Pact
• WW2DB: Axis Countries