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 2.1 Albania 2.2 Argentina 2.3 Australia 2.4 Belgium 2.5 Bolivia 2.6 Brazil 2.7 Bulgaria 2.8 Canada 2.9 China 2.10 Colombia 2.11 Costa Rica 2.12 Cuba 2.13 Czechoslovakia 2.14 Denmark 2.15 Dominican Republic 2.16 Ecuador 2.17 Egypt 2.18 El Salvador 2.19 Ethiopia 2.20 Finland 2.21 France 2.22 Germany 2.23 Greece 2.24 Guatemala 2.25 Haiti 2.26 Honduras 2.27 Hungary 2.28 India 2.29 Iran 2.30 Iraq 2.31 Italy 2.32 Japan 2.33 Lebanon 2.34 Liberia 2.35 Luxemburg 2.36 San Marino 2.37 Saudi Arabia 2.38 South Africa 2.39 Soviet Union 2.40 Spain 2.41 Switzerland 2.42 Syria 2.43 Turkey 2.44 United Kingdom 2.45 United States of America 2.46 Uruguay 2.47 Venezuela 2.48 Vichy France 2.49 Yugoslavia 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 separate 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 latter 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 material 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

Albania's was forcibly annexed by Italy in 1939 shorltly after Germany had siezed Czechoslavakia. Albania had no ability to withstand the invasion, and ultimately became Italy's launching point for its later 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 neighbours, Albania had a significant resistance movement against the Axis powers. After the war, Albania became a Communist state.

Argentina

Under the militaristic government of Gral. Edelmiro T. Farrell, 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.

Australia

When United Kingdom declared war on Germany, the Dominions including Australia entered the war. Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War; Australian servicemen fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa; and against Japan in south-east Asia and in other parts of the Pacific. The Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time as Japanese aircraft bombed towns in north-western Australia and Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney harbour. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) participated in operations against Italy after its entry into the war in June 1940. A few Australians flew in the Battle of Britain in August and September of the same year, but the Australian Army was not engaged in combat until 1941, when the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions joined Allied operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Belgium

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 under the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas, and maintained its neutrality until the beginning of 1942. After the German attack against Brazilian ships in the Atlantic Ocean and in Pearl Harbour, Brazil sided with the Allies, declaring war against Germany and Italy in 1942. Brazil helped to patrol the South Atlantic and sent a army of more than 25,000 soldiers to fight in Europe in 1944, being the only Latin American nation to send troops to Europe. This army joined the 5th Army under General Mark Clark and participated in the campaign of Italy until the end of war.

Bulgaria

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

Canada

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

Already engaged in war with Japan, as well as enduring a civil conflict between the Kuomintang 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 each other, with the Communists ultimately driving out the Nationalists to Taiwan.

Colombia

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Colombia broke diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. Then, in 1943, the U-505 German submarine destroyed a Colombian schooner, which caused Colombia to declare a "status of belligerency " against Germany. The German ambassador left the country and measures of control were implemented, including concentration of German citizens in designated areas.

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 Weserübung. 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

Egypt at the time was under the rule of the British Empire, and it was seen by both the Axis and the Allies as a vital strategic point, because of access to the Suez Canal. Initially Egypt was targeted by Italy, but after a heavy defeat by the British forces under the command of General Wavell, the Germans were compelled to enter the fray with a division under the command of a then little known general by the name of Erwin Rommel. His successes in the areas to the west of Egypt, and the fact that they came to within 100 miles of Cairo, gave the Allied forces (in particular the British) a major fright. The revolutionary officers that were to eventually come to power in 1952 (led by Colonel Abdel Nasser) however were plotting to support the Germans in their push for Cairo, seeing this as an opportunity to overthrow the British.

El Salvador

Ethiopia

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

Finland

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 months, 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

France was one of the original 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

Nazi Germany was the primary Axis power in the European Theatre led by Adolf Hitler. 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 throughout the war.

India

India was part of the British Empire at the beginning of World War II. India had an autonomous military, the Indian, 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

During the start of the war the Allies demanded that Iran remove German nationals from Iran fearing they might be Nazi spies or harm the British owned oil but, Reza Shah refused stating that they had nothing to do with the Nazis. The Iranians by now hated the British for control of their oil and their sphere of influence on the country and the Iranians, like the Germans, being of Aryan descent leaned for an Axis victory. Iran however, like most countries did not know of the extermination of the Jews until after the war. Soon German demand for oil rose and the Allies worried that Germany would look to neutral Iran for help. Soon the Allies questioned themselves about Iran neutrality and they gave Reza Shah a finally warning to remove the German workers. He refused once again. In September 1941, the Allies invaded Iran and forced Reza Shah Pahlavi to abicate his throne. He was replaced by his son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was willing to fight the Axis Powers. Within months Iran entered the war on the side of the Allies and became known as "The Bridge of Victory".

Iraq

Due to the United Kingdom's meager disposition early in the war, Iraq backed away from its Anglo-Iraqi Alliance with the country. It secretly began negotiations with the Axis powers. When the British high command requested to send reinforcements to Iraq, the country's Prime Minister Nuri allowed a small British force to land. Consequently he was forced to resign. Later requests to reinforce Iraq were denied by the new leadership. When British troops showed up despite the denials 30 days of fighting insued. The Iraqi army quickly capitulated and many leader fled the country. Britain forced Iraq to declare war on the Axis in 1942.

Italy

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, also known as the Salo Republic). Italy would become a member of NATO after the war, but lost territory to Yugoslavia.

Japan

Lebanon

Lebanon was under the control of France during the war, and thus controlled by the puppet Vichy government after France's capitualtion. Lebanon was wrested from Vichy France by Allied forces. De Gaulle declared Lebanon independent on November 22, 1943. It declared war on the Axis, but contributed minimally.

Liberia

Luxemburg

Romania 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, Romania joined the Axis. As a member of the Axis, the Romanian war effort was almost entirely spent on the Eastern Front. With the entry of Soviet troops into Romania 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. Romania became a key member of the Warsaw Pact after the war.

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

As a member of the British Commonwealth, the Union of South Africa declared war on Germany shortly after the United Kingdom. Several South African divisions fought under allied command in the European war.

Soviet Union

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 Romania. 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 División_Azul. Spain remained a neutral power until the 1980s.

Switzerland

Switzerland intended to be a neutral power during the war, but German threats and military mobilizations towards its borders prompted the Swiss military to prepare for war. Though a Nazi invasion of Switzerland, codenamed Operation Tannenbaum was planned for 1940 , the event never ultimately occurred as Hitler decided such a conflict would be a waste of resources at a time when he preferred to concentrate on the invasion of Britain. Unlike Holland, Belgium and other western European nations which had easily fallen under Nazi invasion, Switzerland had a strong military and rocky geographic terrain that would have likely made an invasion long and difficult. Although the Swiss government was anti-Nazi, Swiss troops did not intervene into the European conflict. Switzerland is thus usually regarded as the only Western European country that was able to maintain some semblance of uncontested neutrality during the entire conflict.

Syria

Syria was under French control throughout the war. The province of Iskanderoun was given to Turkey to keep them neutral in the war.

Turkey

Throughout the war, Turkey greatly feared a German attack, against which it would have been helpless. As a result, it was not until March, 1945, that Turkey declared war on Germany. By that point, the war against Germany was practically over. Turkey provided no real help to the Allies during the war.

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.

Uruguay

Venezuela

The government of Venezuela provided vast oil resources to the allies, it maintained a relative neutrality until the last years of war when finally declared war at Germany and the rest of the axis countries.

Vichy France

Vichy France provided pockets of resistance.

Yugoslavia

See also

• List of countries involved in World War II