World War II by country
Almost every country in the world participated in World War II. Most were neutral at the beginning, but relatively few nations remained neutral to the end. The conflict pitted two alliances of nations against each other, the Allies and the Axis powers. It is estimated that 74 million people died, with estimates ranging from 40 million to 90 million deaths including all genocide casualties. The main Axis powers were Nazi Germany, the Empire of Japan, and the Kingdom of Italy. The United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union and China were the Big Four Allied powers. Participants and non-participants during World War II are listed alphabetically along with a description of their role. Neutral powers included Afghanistan which stayed out of the war despite British pressure. Some nations like Argentina maintained neutrality until late in the conflict. Others such as Brazil declared war on Germany and Italy after submarine attacks sank merchant ships.
In May 1940 Germany launched a surprise attack during its wider blitzkrieg against France. Belgian forces resisted the invasion for 18 days before surrendering on the 28th of May 1940. King Leopold III and most of the army became prisoners of war. Hundreds of thousands of Belgians labored in Germany during the war under forced labor programs. Around 25,000 Jews and Romani were deported during the Holocaust in Belgium passing through the Mechelen transit camp. In Poland the Free City of Danzig aided Nazi Germany during the invasion on the 1st of September 1939. Czechoslovakia was dismembered starting with the Munich Agreement and by the First Vienna Award in 1938. The Sudetenland became part of Germany while Trans-Olza was annexed by Poland. A puppet regime led by Jozef Tiso was set up in Slovakia joining the Axis when leaders signed the Tripartite Pact on the 24th of November 1940. Seven-five thousand Jews out of 80,000 in Slovakia were deported to German death camps. Denmark officially remained neutral from the outbreak of the war until Germany invaded without declaration of war as part of Operation Weserübung on the 9th of April 1940.
Japan began its conquest of Burma with small raids in December 1941 launching a full invasion the following January. Japan held most of the country by April and ceded the Shan states to its ally Thailand. Many Burmese hoped to gain support of the Japanese in expelling the British so that Burma could become independent. Under Japanese occupation 170,000 to 250,000 civilians died. In the Dutch East Indies rich petroleum resources were a prime objective of the Japanese military in its attack on the Allies from the 7th of December 1941. The Japanese navy and army overran Dutch and allied forces in less than three months completing the occupation in March 1942. Initially many Indonesians joyfully welcomed the Japanese as liberators from Dutch colonialism but sentiment changed as they realized they were expected to endure hardships for the Japanese war effort. About 2.4 million people died in Java from famine during 1944, 45. A later UN report stated that four million people died in Indonesia as a result of the Japanese occupation. Fiji became a major military sea port for convoy traffic between the U.S. and Australia serving as a stopping-off point for troops and supplies being shipped to the Solomons.
Egypt was of vital strategic importance because of the Suez Canal and Egypt's central geographical location. After British forces defeated the initial Italian invasion Germany entered the North African theatre to save Italian Libya. A series of German victories brought Axis forces within 60 miles of Cairo creating great expectation among Egyptian nationalists. However British victory at El-Alamein heralded the end of Axis advances in Egypt. In Ethiopia Emperor Haile Selassie with support from Britain was transported to Sudan to work alongside Major Orde Wingate to organize main Ethiopian Patriot divisions. The East African campaign consisted of Ethiopian Eritrean British Sudanese Kenyan Rhodesian South African Indian Nigerian Ghanaian and Free French Forces. Within months liberation of Ethiopia was achieved on the 5th of May 1941 five years to the day that the Emperor fled his capital. Algeria along with France's other possessions in Africa were under control of Nazi Germany and Vichy France after the Fall of France. On the 8th of November 1942 Allies launched Operation Torch establishing liberation of northern Africa. Algerian troops distinguished themselves in the French Expeditionary Corps under General Juin during the Italian campaign of 1943.
Afghanistan stayed neutral despite British pressure maintaining friendly relations with the Axis during the war. In 1940 the Afghanistan legation in Berlin asked whether Germany would cede land in British Raj if it should win the war. Argentina maintained a long tradition of neutrality regarding European wars which had been upheld since the 19th century. Relations worsened further following a military coup in 1943 as plotters were accused of holding Axis sympathies. Argentina eventually gave in to Allied pressure breaking relations with Axis powers on the 26th of January 1944 and declaring war on the 27th of March 1945. Chile declared its neutrality upon outbreak of war having close trading links with Germany but later distanced itself from Axis powers. An attempted Nazi-backed coup in September 1938 turned most of Chilean population against German community within Chile. Chile eventually declared war on Japan on the 13th of April 1945 becoming last country in South America to do so. Costa Rica joined Allies on the 8th of December 1941 declaring war on Japan day after Pearl Harbor attack.
It is estimated that 74 million people died with estimates ranging from 40 million to 90 million deaths including all genocide casualties. The Chinese Nationalist army suffered some 3.2 million casualties while 17 million civilians died in crossfire. In Slovakia 75,000 Jews out of 80,000 were deported and taken to German death camps. Around 25,000 Jews and Romani were deported during Holocaust in Belgium passing through Mechelen transit camp. About 2.4 million people died in Java from famine during 1944, 45. A later UN report stated four million people died in Indonesia as result of Japanese occupation. Over 4,000 Argentine volunteers fought on Allied side. More than one million Australian men served in war out of total population around seven million. Of these more than 45,000 lost their lives and another 54,000 were wounded. Six Cuban merchant ships were sunk by U-boats taking lives of around eighty sailors. In Estonia 70,000 Estonians joined or were conscripted by German side to fight Soviets.
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Common questions
Which countries were the main Axis powers in World War II?
The main Axis powers were Nazi Germany, the Empire of Japan, and the Kingdom of Italy. These three nations formed the primary alliance opposing the Allies during the conflict.
When did Belgium surrender to German forces during World War II?
Belgian forces surrendered on the 28th of May 1940 after resisting the invasion for 18 days. King Leopold III and most of the army became prisoners of war following this event.
How many people died in Indonesia as a result of Japanese occupation?
A later UN report stated that four million people died in Indonesia as a result of the Japanese occupation. About 2.4 million people died in Java from famine during 1944 and 1945 alone.
On what date was Ethiopia liberated by Allied forces during World War II?
Liberation of Ethiopia was achieved on the 5th of May 1941 five years to the day that Emperor Haile Selassie fled his capital. The East African campaign involved Ethiopian Eritrean British Sudanese Kenyan Rhodesian South African Indian Nigerian Ghanaian and Free French Forces.
When did Argentina declare war on Axis powers during World War II?
Argentina declared war on the 27th of March 1945 after breaking relations with Axis powers on the 26th of January 1944. This decision followed a military coup in 1943 and subsequent pressure from the Allies.