Figure 1.-- |
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The two major alliance systems in World War II were the Axis and Allied Nations. The Axis is relativekly easy to describe. The Axis core was Germany, Italy, and Japan. Several other countries joined the Axis willingly or were forced into the Axis. Germany's and Japan's Axis allies were exploited although not as brutally as the captive nations. The Allies are aittle more complicated. The Allies began with the World War I Allies (Britain with the Dominions and France). After the fall of France (June 1940), Vichy France cooperated in many ways with the Germans, but never joined the Axis or bcame a beligerant. Britain and the Dominions fought alone. Countries gradually joined the Allies, primarily after they were attacked by Axis countries and for the most part occupied. The traditional policy of neutrality proved a disasterous choice in the face of NAZI aggression. The United States was one of those countries, but was actively involved with keeping Britain in the War when the Japanese carrier attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the War. The core of the Allies thus became Britain, the Dominions, and the United States. There was, however, no formal treaty as was the case of the Axis. The Soviet Union was a largely independent factor. It signed and alliance with Germany (August 1939) which made the War possible. The German invasion (June 1941) forced the Soviets into the Allied camp. While he Sioviet Uniin played a central role in the defeat of the Germans, it never was a fully Allied country. Finland after surviving the Soviet invasion (November 1939), became a German co-belgerant, but never joined the Axis. For the most part the Latin American declared neutrality, but after Pearl Harbor gradually joined the Allies as non-beligerants. They supported the Allies with raw materials for which they were amply paid. The one exception was Brazil which played an active role in the War.
The World War II Axis is relatively alliance easy to describe. The Axis core was Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany and Italy moved close together in the mid-1930s. Italy joinrf Germany in the War after France was lrgely defeated (June 1940). Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact (September 27, 1940). The agreement allied Germany and Italy (which were at war with Britain) and Japan (which was at war with China). Germany and Italy has since 1939-40 been at war with Britain. Japan since 1937 had been at war with China. The alliance did not require the partners to join these wars, but it did require them to come to each other's aid if attacked by any country. The alliance became known as the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis alliance, or commonly the Axis. The three Axis partners recognized German hegemony over most of Europe; Italian hegemony in the Mediterranean, and Japanese hegemony in East Asia. After the Axis agreement was signed, several German allies joined the Axis, notably Vichy France and Fascist Spain refused to do so. Japan had no Asian allies, except for the puppet state of Manchukuo. Several other countries joined the Axis willingly or were forced into the Axis. Germany's and Japan's Axis allies were exploited although not as brutally as the captive nations.
The Allies are a little more complicated. The Allies began with the World War I Allies (Britain with the Dominions and France). After the fall of France (June 1940), Vichy France cooperated in many ways with the Germans, but never joined the Axis or became a beligerant. Britain and the Dominions fought alone. Countries gradually joined the Allies, primarily after they were attacked by Axis countries and for the most part occupied. The traditional policy of neutrality proved a disasterous choice in the face of NAZI aggression. The United States was one of those countries, but was actively involved with keeping Britain in the War when the Japanese carrier attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the War. The core of the Allies thus became Britain, the Dominions, and the United States. The result was the most effective and umportant military alliance in history. There was, however, no formal treaty as was the case of the Axis. The basic statement of the Allied alliance was made by President Roosevelt Primeminister Churchill--the Atlantic Charter (August 1941). For the most part the Latin American declared neutrality, but after Pearl Harbor gradually joined the Allies as non-beligerants. They supported the Allies with raw materials for which they were amply paid. The one exception was Brazil which played an active role in the War.
The Soviet Union was a largely independent factor. It first signed the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Act (August 1939). It was an alliance with Germany (August 1939) which made the War possible. The two countries divided Eastern Europe between them. While the world focused on NAZI aggressions, the Soviet Union carried out its own string of ruthless aggressions. They also supplied vital war material to NAZI Germany. The Soviet aggressions involved seizing the countries assigned to it under the terms of Non-Aggression Pact. The German invasion (June 1941) forced the Soviets into the Allied camp. While the Soviet Union played a central role in the defeat of the Germans, it never was a fully Allied country. Stalin was determined to retain thecterritory gained as part of his alliance with Hitler. The Allies had no choice, but to ally them selves with the Soviet Union. It is difficult to see hiow NZI Germany could hve been defeated with out the Red Army and the destruction of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front.
Finland after surviving the Soviet invasion (November 1939), became a German co-belgerant, but never joined the Axis.
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