Participants in World War II


Participants in World War II - Definition

Participants in World War II involves all nations who either participated directly or were affected by any of the theatres or events of World War II.

Contents

1 Alliances

1.1 The Axis
1.2 The Allies

2 National impacts

3 See also

Alliances

World War II was primarily fought between two large alliances. The Axis Powers were a group of countries led by Nazi Germany, and considered the aggressors of the conflict. The Allies, led by the United Kingdom and, during the Phony War, France, was in 1941 enforced by the Soviet Union (in June) and the United States (in December).

The Axis

Originally founded on the concept of the Rome-Berlin-axis (the Pact of Steel), later the Tripartite Pact, the Axis was not primarily a formal alliance. Each of the major countries went to war on their own initiative (Nazi Germany in 1939, Italy in 1940, and Japan in 1941), and not necessarily to assist each other. There was little sharing of technology or resources, and also little in the way of cooperative strategic planning between the major Axis powers.

With the demise of Italy, Germany and Japan each functioned as wholly seperate powers, each conducting the war in their theatre (Germany in Europe and Japan in the Pacific. There were a number of smaller powers on the side of the Axis, although for the most part the war effort was directed and powered by Germany and Japan.

With the defeat of the Axis, those nations which had ended up on its side suffered great loss. Many countries underwent lengthy occupation after the war. Most colonial possessions and many contentious border areas were stripped from them. Most became client states of the victorious Allies as the Cold War came about.

The Allies

Like the Axis, the Allies were not a fully cohesive alliance. The original Allied countries, bound by their commitment to the security of Poland, were led by the United Kingdom and France. As other countries were invaded by Nazi Germany, they were added to the Allied ranks. The fall of France left the United Kingdom as the sole remaining major country of the Allies. Most of the remainder consisted of the British Commonwealth and forces commanded by various governments-in-exile.

In 1941, with Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union, the British accepted the Communist Soviet Union into their alliance. Previous to the attack, the United Kingdom was unsure of how to deal with the Soviet leadership. However, once the Soviet Union joined the Allies, there was a great effort to support them as they fought the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front.

1941 also saw the entry into the war of both Japan and the United States, with the later committing itself to assisting the Allies in both theatres of war. The United States would become a major contributor of resources and production for the war effort, shipping materiel to most of the Allies to assist their forces, as well as contributing their own forces to combat.

A much larger number of countries joined the Allies during the war than joined the Axis. Not only did the countries attacked by the Axis join, but later in the war, many smaller countries not directly involved in the war joined the Allies to ensure their own security as well as to gain the support of the Allies economically and militarily during and after the war.

National impacts

Each country involved in or affected by World War II is listed with a brief description of its role in the conflict. For those who were major participants, a further sub-article is provided to give detailed history on their participation.

Note: Countries are listed alphabetically.

Albania

Main article: Military history of Albania during World War II

Albania's entry to the war came in the form of forcible annexation by Italy in 1940. Albania had no ability to withstand the invasion, and ultimately became Italy's launching point for its invasion of Greece. When this failed, Greek troops launched a counter-offensive and sought to capture some Albanian territory from Italy. Once the German Balkan Campaign was completed in 1941, Albania served as the base for the Italian garrison in the Balkans. Like its neighbors, Albania had a significant resistance movement against the Axis powers. After the war, Albania became a Communist state.

Argentina

Under a militaristic government, Argentina was originally sympathetic to the Axis powers. However, for political reasons, Argentina joined other Latin American countries and declared war on Germany late in the conflict. Their contribution was minimal.

Belgium

Main article: Military history of Belgium in World War II

Like the Netherlands, Belgium declared its neutrality in an effort to avoid being caught in another war between Germany and France. Nazi Germany however did not respect this and marched through Belgium as a key part of its invasion of France in 1940. Thus, Belgium joined the Allies and maintained a government-in-exile with control over its colonial possessions until liberated in 1944.

Bolivia

Bolivia was one of many Latin American countries to declare war on Germany late in the war.

Brazil

Brazil was the largest Latin American country to declare war on Germany and did send combat units to assist the war effort, primarily engaging in Italy.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria was a minor German ally, their main contribution being transit rights for German units involved against Yugoslavia and Greece.

Canada

Main article: Military history of Canada in World War II

As a member of the Commonwealth, Canada declared war on Germany within days of the invasion of Poland. Unlike World War I, however, Canadian units remained more independent of British command, although they played an important role in several British-led campaigns, especially in Northwest Europe. Canada would become a member of NATO and a frequent participant in UN peacekeeping operations after the war.

China

Main article: Military history of China during World War II

Already engaged in war with Japan, as well as enduring a civil conflict between the Koumintang and the Communist Party of China when the war began, China's full attention was within her borders in resisting the Japanese during the war. Many of China's urban centers and industrial resources were occupied by Japan for most of the war. China suffered a large death toll from the war, both military and civilian. After the war, China's main factions went back to war between eachother, with the Communists ultimately driving out the Nationalists to Taiwan.

Colombia

Colombia joined the Allies late in the war.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica joined the Allies late in the war.

Cuba

Cuba joined the Allies late in the war.

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and Hungary, starting with Neville Chamberlain's Munich Agreement with Hitler and the German–Italian Vienna Awards. A Nazi-dependent puppet regime led by Jozef Tiso was ultimately inserted in Slovakia. An insurgency, commenced in August 1944, was put down by German forces. In April, 1945, the Red Army defeated the Germans and ousted Tiso's government.

Denmark

Denmark remained neutral from the beginning of the war until it was invaded and occupied by Germany on April 9, 1940 as part of Operation Weser�bung. Denmark's government remained in function in Copenhagen until 1943, and the occupation of Denmark was administred by the German Foreign Ministry. May 10, 1940, Iceland was invaded by the British, and in 1944 declared independent. In 1945, Bornholm was invaded by the Soviet Union while the German forces in the rest of Denmark gave up on May 4, 1945.

After the war, Denmark became a member of NATO.

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Ethiopia

Had been invaded by Italy in an attempt to show off its military might. Was liberated in 1941 by British forces, and Emperor Haile Selassie was returned to the throne after exile.

Finland

Main article: Military history of Finland during World War II

Finland was one of the victims of Soviet aggression in 1939. It refused Soviet territorial demands, and was invaded by Soviet forces, beginning the Winter War. The invasion was met by fierce resistance on the Finnish side of the border. After three and a half month, the Peace of Moscow granted the Soviet Union four Finnish towns still in the hands of the Finns, and 12% of the population was evacuated, but Soviet demands and threats increased in the ensuing months. In June 1941, after Nazi Germany's invasion of Russia, the Soviet Union once again attacked Finland that thereby became a co-belligerent of the Third Reich in the Continuation War. Britain joined the Soviet Union with a declaration of war in December 1941. After the Wehrmacht's retreat from the shores of the Gulf of Finland, and a Soviet offensive coordinated with D-day, the parties could agree to an armistice in September 1944, with further territorial concessions for Finland including the only ice-free harbor Petsamo, and a requirement for speeded de-mobilization at the same time as German troops had to be fought back over the border to Norway, resulting in Finland's Lapland War. Peace with the Soviet Union and Britain was concluded in the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947.

France

Main article: Military history of France during World War II

France was one of the orginal guarantors of Polish security, and as such joined with the United Kingdom at the start of the war as a leader of the Allies. After the fall of France and the foundation of Vichy France, the Free French Forces were formed to maintain the French commitment to the Allies and liberate French territory occupied by Germany. They played an important role in the battles of the Western Front. France was liberated by the Allies in 1944 and became a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations and founding member of NATO after the war.

Germany

Main article: Military history of Germany during World War II

Nazi Germany was the primary Axis power in the European Theatre. The surrender of the German forces May 4–8 signalled the end of the war in Europe.

Greece

Guatemala

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary

Hungary was a significant German ally through the war.

India

India was part of the British Empire at the beginning of World War II. India had an autonomous military, the Indian Army, primarily manned by Indian troops under British officers. Indian troops participated in the British Expeditionary Force as well as the British 8th Army in North Africa. Indian troops played a major role in British operations in South East Asia. India gained independence after World War II, divided into India and Pakistan.

Iran

Iraq

Italy

Main article: Military history of Italy during World War II

Italy had completed two conquests (Ethiopia and Albania) prior to its entry into World War II. Despite the Pact of Steel with Nazi Germany, Italy did not join in the war until June, 1940, planning to get a share of Allied territory with the defeat of France. Italy's war effort went poorly, resulting in defeats in Greece, North Africa, and the Mediterranean Sea. Italy was invaded by the Allies in 1943 and Mussolini's government collapsed. Italy was split between an Allied-occupied south and the remnants of the Fascist government in the north, the Italian Social Republic (allied with Germany). Italy would become a member of NATO after the war, but lost territory to Yugoslavia.

Japan

Lebanon

Liberia

Luxemburg

Main article: Military history of Luxembourg during World War II

When Germany invaded France by way of the Low Countries, Luxembourg, despite its neutrality, was quickly invaded, occupied, and annexed by Germany until liberated by the Allies at the end of 1944.

Mexico

Mongolia

Morrocco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Main article: Military history of New Zealand during World War II

One of the original countries to declare war on Germany, New Zealand sent a division to the European Theatre as well as participating in the Pacific. While New Zealand's home islands were not attacked, the casualty rate suffered by the military was the worst per capita of all Commonwealth nations.

Nicaragua

Norway

Panama

Paraguay

Paraguay had a government sympathetic to the Axis powers early in the war, but joined other Latin American nations in declaring war on the Axis Powers late in the war.

Peru

Poland

Rumania

Rumania had its first involvement in the war in providing transit rights for members of the Polish government, its treasury, and many Polish troops in 1939. During 1940, territory was ceded to the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Bulgaria, and following an internal political upheaval, Rumania joined the Axis. As a member of the Axis, the Rumanian war effort was almost entirely spent on the Eastern Front. With the entry of Soviet troops into Rumania near the end of the war, the government was replaced by a pro-Soviet one and joined the Allies as a co-belligerent for the remainder of the war. Rumania became a key member of the Warsaw Pact after the war.

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Soviet Union

Main article: Military history of the Soviet Union during World War II

The Soviet Union began World War II as a German partner in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and joined Germany in the invasion of Poland. The Soviets occupied Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and made territorial demands on Finland and Rumania. Finnish resistance led the Soviets to invade in 1939, beginning the Winter War. Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union in 1941. The Soviet Red Army mounted a successful counter-offensive during the winter, and gained the initiative with a series of major victories in 1943, culminating in the ultimate advance of Soviet forces into Eastern Europe and Germany itself in 1945. The Soviet Union suffered greater losses, both amongst civilians and military forces, than any of the other participants in the war. After the war, the Soviet sphere of influence was widened to cover most of Eastern Europe, formalized in the Warsaw Pact, to counter the western Allies and NATO. The Soviet Union came to be considered one of the two superpowers of the Cold War.

Spain

The Franco government of Spain had risen to power as a result to a significant degree of Italian and German intervention and support. The fascist government did not become directly involved in the war, but did however send volunteers to fight with Germany against the Soviet Union in the form of the Division Azul. Spain remained a neutral power until the 1980s.

Syria

Turkey

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was one of the original Allies, entering the war in 1939 to honor its guarantees to Poland. From the fall of France in 1940 to the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, it was the only major country among the Allies. The United Kingdom was heavily engaged in the Western European, Atlantic, Mediterranean, African and South East Asian theatres, and was considered one of the Big Three during Allied conferences in the second half of the war. The United Kingdom maintained close ties with the nations of the British Commonwealth and often incorporated their forces into British military operations.

United States of America

The United States of America was neutral early in the war, although it steadily grew ties with the Allies and began providing increasing levels of assistance to them. The United States joined the Allies in December 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when war on Japan was declared by Congress on December 8. Germany declared war on the United States shortly afterwards. The United States subscribed to the Allied plan to make defeat of Germany the priority, where it operated in coordination with the United Kingdom in most major operations. However, it also maintained a strong effort against Japan, being the primary Allied power in the Pacific Theatre. The U.S. played an important role in providing valuable industrial production to support the Allied war effort. After the war United States would retain military commitments to European security while providing economic investment to rebuild nations suffering devastation during the war. Politically, the U.S. would become the leader of the western Allies in forming NATO, and host the United Nations in which it gained one of the permanent seats on the Security Council.